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Title:PeltsandPowder.AStoryoftheWestCoastintheMaking.Author:McKelvie,BruceAlistair(1889-1960)Illustrator:AnonymousDateoffirstpublication:1929Editionusedasbaseforthisebook:London&Toronto:J.M.Dent,1929[firstedition]

Datefirstposted:3March2012Datelastupdated:3March2012ProjectGutenbergCanadaebook#921

ThisebookwasproducedbyAlHaines

[Frontispiece:Thismapshowstheislandsatwhichthebrig"Hope"called]

PELTSANDPOWDER

ASTORYOFTHEWESTCOASTINTHEMAKING

By

B.A.MCKELVIE

Authorof"Huldowget,""BlackCanyon,"etc.

WITHEIGHTILLUSTRATIONS



London&Toronto

J.M.DENT&SONSLTD.

FirstPublished...1929

_Allrightsreserved_

PRINTEDINGREATBRITAIN

FOREWORD

NomorecolourfulchapteristobefoundintheromanceoftheWestthanthatwhichcoverstheperiodfrom1778to1795,whenNootka,the

landing-placeofCaptainJamesCook,wasthestorm-centreofinternationalpoliticsandthepawnofnations.TothisisolatedspotonthewildWestCoastcametheadventurersofmanylands,luredbythereportsofthewealthtobeobtainedinthetradingofsea-otterpeltsbetweenAmericaandChina,wheretherichblackfurwassohighlyesteemedbyOrientalprincesandmandarins.Purchasedfortrinketsandtriflesworthafewpennies,theseskinsbroughthighpricesontheCantonmarket.

ExpeditionswerefittedoutinEngland,theOrient,France,Spain,andtheUnitedStatesfortherock-boundshoresanddangerouschannelsofthislittleknownpartoftheworld.Menenvisionedtherewardsandcountednotthedifficultiesortheterrorsofthetrade--andoutof

theirdaringgrewcivilisation.

WhilenotthefirsttofollowthetrackofthegreatBritishexplorer,the"BostonTraders"--asthemarinersfromMassachusettscametobeknown--werethemostpersistentinthecommerceandcontinuedtocombthecoastforpeltsuntilafterthefur-tradersofCanadaextendedtheirdomainacrossthecontinentand,amalgamatingunderthebanneroftheHudson'sBayCompany,erectedpostsatstrategicpointsfromtheColumbiaRivertoAlaskaandsecuredthemonopolyoftrade.ShipssailingfromEuropeandBostonandtradingfromChinacouldnotmeetthecompetitionofpermanentestablishments,andthus,halfacenturyaftertheyfirstappeared,themarine-traderswereforcedfromthefield.

Inpicturingthelifeandtimesofthetrade,thehistoryofthelittlebrigantine_Hope_,CaptainJosephIngraham,ofBoston,hasbeencloselyfollowed.TheoriginalofthisinterestingrecordisintheLibraryofCongressatWashington,D.C.,whileaphotostatcopyisintheProvincialArchivesatVictoria,BritishColumbia.

Whiletheyouthfulcharactershavebeen,ofcourse,devisedtoaddinterestandpreservecontinuity,andoneortwoevents,suchastheircaptivityamongtheIndians,werenecessarytoavoidthetediumofa



triptoandfromtheOrient,themainincidentswillbearcomparisonwiththeunvarnishedtaleassetdownbytheoldmarinerwithhisquillpeninthecabinofthe_Hope_.

B.A.M.

_Vancouver,B.C._

CONTENTS

ForewordI.SignedOnII.UnchartedWatersIII.TroubleBrewingIV.TheBrigAttackedV.ManthePumpsVI.AWildWelcomeVII.AdriftintheMistVIII.InCaptivityIX.TheGodofFireX.Rescued

XI.AnUnexpectedMessageXII.TreacherousNativesXIII.NootkaXIV.Drake,BurbankandDrake

LISTOFILLUSTRATIONS

MapoftheIslands........._Frontispiece_

"GoodMorning,Sir"

ALargeDoubleCanoe

KennethwentAlofttoKeepaLook-Out

TheyHuddledTogether

TheTestbyFire

TheBrig"Hope"inNootkaSound

"Uncle!"

CHAPTERI

SIGNEDON

"Sothouartmynephew?"Theoldtradergazedoverthesquarelenses



ofhisspectaclesattheyouthwhostoodbeforehimhatinhand,"Andwhatmaythynamebe?"

"Lawrence,sir--LawrenceDrake."

"Lawrence,"repeatedtheoldmanslowly."Ah,namedforthymother'skin?"

"Yes,sir."

TobiasDrakewasamanofsomewhateccentrichabits,butwasbetterknowntohisfellow-merchantsofBostonbyreasonofhisshrewdness,perceptionandabilitytodriveahardbargain.Thesequalitieshadwonforhimareputationforwealthandanassuredpositioninthemercantilecommunity,buttheyhadnotbroughthimthefriendshipofhisassociates.

Thealmostobliteratedfirm-nameontheweather-beatenoldsignboardthathungoverthedoorofhisdarkanddustycounting-housewas"TobiasDrakeandBrother."Sometherewereamongtheolderbusiness-menofthetownwhocouldrememberthejuniorpartner,apleasant-spokenyoungfellowwhohadreturnedfromanEnglishuniversitytojoinTobiasinhiscommercialventures.Theycouldrecallwhenthepaintwasfreshandshiningonthesign-board,andwhen

"OldToby,"theninhisprime,hadmadeatourofthetradingestablishments,andwithanairofprideandproprietorshiphadintroducedhisbrother.Then,despitethechangeinthestyleofthebusiness,theyoungerDrakeseemedalmosttovanishintothedingyrecessesofthecounting-house,whereheporedoverthebooksofthepartnership,andtooknoevidentpartintheconductofthebusiness.

Therefollowedtroubloustimes.Men'smindsweredivertedfromthehum-drumchannelsoftradetothevexationsofpolitics.TaxesandexactionsbytheBritishGovernmentfollowedoneuponanother,untilmutteredcomplaintsgrewintoopendefiance,andbitterargumentseparatedoldfriends.WhigsopenlyreproachedTorieswhosoughttojustifytheimpositions,andToriesvainlyarguedthevirtueofloyalty

totheCrown.

Itwasrumoured,whenmentooktimetodiscusstheirneighbours,thatTobiasDrakeandhisyoungbrotherwerenotinagreementupontheissuesofthemoment,andthatthejuniorpartner,notlongfromtheMotherCountry,upheldthepoliciesoftheKing'sGovernment.TobiaswaswellknowntobeafirmsupporterofthecauseoftheColonies.

Thencamethatmemorablenightin1773whenmen,garbedasIndians,swarmeddowntothewharfwhereacargoofteaawaitedunloadingandtookpossessionofthevessel,andinprotestagainsttheobnoxioustea-taxdumpedtheloadedchestsintotheharbour.Rumouragainreportedthat,whenthenextmorningthewholetownbuzzedwiththe

excitementandagitationofthenews,therehadbeenanangrydisputebetweenthebrothers,andFredericDrakehadquittedtheplace.

WhetherthiswastrueorfalseTobiasnevervouchsafedananswer,butFredericwasnotseenaboutthepremisesortownafterthattime.NordidanyonecaretoquestionTobiasuponthesubject.Nochangesweremadeaboutthecounting-house,andthebusinesswascarriedonasifthepartnershipcontinuedtoexistwithoneoftheprincipalsabsentupontheaffairsoftheconcern.TheonlychangewasinTobiashimself.Hekeptmoreandmoretohimself,holdingbutlittleconverse



withanypersonoutsideofhisbusinessdealings,unlessitwaswiththemanservantwholookedafterhisbachelorquartersimmediatelybehindhisprivateoffice.

Andnow,seventeenyearsafterthebrothershadparted,camethisboy,sayingthathewasFrederic'sson.

"Andthyfatherisdead?"Tobiasaskedalmostinawhisper.

"Yessir;ItoldyouhediedatHalifaxthreeyearsago."

"Threeyears--threeyears:thisis1790--yes,hewouldhavelivedlongenoughtorepent,"hemurmuredhalfaloud,andthenturningtotheboyhealmostshouted:"Yourfatherwasafool--afool,Isay.Hewouldupholdoppression,andmouthaboutloyalty--loyalty;whatdiditbringhim?Diedinwant,Iwarrant--no,no,don'ttellme,"andhewavedhisarmstosilencetheastonishedyouth,whoseflushedfaceshowedthathistemperwasbeingaroused,andhewasabouttogiveangrydenial."No,no,"wentontheoldman,"loyaltybroughthimnothing--Iknow.Allhepossessedwasloyaltyandpride,andwiththoseassetshemarried--married,ah,ah";andhechuckledmirthlessly.

"Andwhowasthymother?"hedemandedalmosthysterically,"whowasshe?Somewomanwithoutsense,Itrow,orsheneverwouldhavemarried

him.Iknow----"

"Stoprightthere,"commandedtheboy,andheclenchedhisfistsandmadeasteptowardshisuncle."Youstoprightthere,oroldasyouare,andmyfather'sbrother,I'llthrashyou.Noonecaninsultmymother."

OldTobiasstopped.Hismouthopenedandhelookedinamazementattheyouth,whowastremblingwithrage."There,there,Ididnotintendanyinsult,Iknewnotthewoman,"heapologisedinamumble."Sittheedown."

"No,sir,Iwillnotsitdown,andIwillnotstayhereeither.Icame

onlybecausemymother"--andhisvoicefalteredforaninstant--"mademepromise,whenshewasdying,tohuntoutmyfather'sbrotherinBoston.Ihavedoneso,andIwantnothingtodowithhim";andputtingonhishatherushedfromtheroom.TobiasDrakewastoosurprisedtomakeanyefforttodetainthelad,andforseveralminuteshesatgazingatthedoorthroughwhichtheyoungfellowhaddisappeared.

"He,too,haspride--andcourage,"hewhisperedatlast,andturningcalled:"Hooker!"

Inanswertothesummons,awizenedoldmanappearedfromtheapartmentsscreenedfromtheofficebyaheavycurtain."Youcalled?"

"Verily;didstthouseetheboywhowashere?"

Theservantnodded.

"Followhimandfindwhitherhegoeth;withwhomheholdsspeech,anduponwhatsubject."

AfterthemanhadgoneOldTobias,whommensaidwashard-heartedandlackinginhumansympathies,threwhisarmsacrossthehighdesk,and



pillowinghiswhiteheaduponthem,criedlikeachild."Oh,Frederic,Frederic,"hesobbed,"thouartgone,--andIslavedfortheeandworkedforthee,thatwhenthoudidstreturnthylittlewouldbeplenty,--andnowthouartgone."

TheSeptemberdaywasdrawingtoaclosewhenHookerreturnedtofindhismastersittinginthedarkenedroomwherehehadlefthim.Thetraderdidnotspeakuntilafterthemanhadlightedacandle;then,"Whatoftheboy?"

"Ifollowedhim,sir,asyousaid.Hebeasturdylad,andIhadatimea-keepingofhiminsight.Hetalkedtooneortwoofthemerchants,askingiftheyhademployment,buttheyhadnoneforhim.Thenhewentdowntothewater-side,andIfollowed----"

"Yes,yes,whatdidhethere?"

"Well,hestooda-lookingattheshippingforatime;thenhewentandspoketothemasterofabrigantine,whojustcomeashore--andtheytalked.Icouldnothearwhattheywasa-saying.Theywastoofaraway."

"Whowasthiscaptain?Didstthoulearnhisname?"

"HewereMasterIngraham,sir."

"What,JosephIngraham--hewhowasonthe_Columbia_asmate?"

"Thesame."

"Andthebrigantine?"

"Itwerethe_Hope_."

"Ingraham--the_Hope_,"Tobiasrepeatedhalfaloud."It'salongvoyageandventuresome--butitmightbewellthathetakeit.Hooker!"

"Ibehere,sir."

"GothouandfindthisCaptainIngraham:presentmyrespectsandtellhimIwouldhavespeechwithhimonimportantbusiness.Hewillcome,forheknowsIholdaninterestintheshipandcargo."

SeveralhourspassedbeforeHookerreturned,followedbyabroad-shouldered,deeply-tannedmaninsemi-navaluniform.

"Ah,CaptainIngraham,"smiledTobiasashelightedasecondcandle,"itpleasethmetomeettheeagain,butIamgrievedtohavetakentheefromthyfamilyupontheeveofthydeparture."

"Tut,tut,sir,'tisnothingifImaybeofservicetoyou."

"Perchancethoumayestdomeservice,"answeredthemerchant;andhebeckonedthesailortoaseatanddrewhisownchairclosetohim.

Theytalkedinlow,earnesttonesforalongtime,andwhenatlastCaptainIngrahamrosetogo,OldTobiashandedhimabagheavywithgold."Now,mindthee,"hecautioned,"speaknothingofthistothelad,butifheprovesworthyofthygoodopinion,lethimnotwantforopportunityofadvancinghimself,eitherintradeortheserviceofthe



sea.Ifheprovestobeunworthy----"andtheoldmanextendedhishandsandshruggedhisshoulders--"thenforgetthatIhavespokentothee,andtreathimasthouwouldstanyotherboy--ashedeserveth."

"Iwilldoasyousay,"answeredthemarinerasheshooktheolderman'shandandleftthehousetomakehiswayhome.

Ashepassedalongthestreets,bylightedshop-windows,andthroughthedimyellowradianceofflickeringoil-lampsonoccasionalstreetcornerswheretheidlersofthetowncongregatedtogossipandchatter,mennudgedeachotherandpointedhimout."TheregoesCaptainIngraham,"theywouldwhisper;andthemoresolidcitizenswhomhemet--goodburghers--wouldlifttheirlanternsandgivehimcheery"Goodevening."

JosephIngrahamwasaherotothepeopleofBoston,forhadhenotbeenmateofthe_ColumbiaRediviva_,whichunderCaptainRobertGrayhadbutrecentlycarried,forthefirsttime,thecoloursoftheyoungRepublicaroundtheglobe?Andthataftertwoyearsspentintradingwiththetreacheroussavagesonthelittle-knowncoastofNorth-WestAmerica?

ManytherewerewhosaidthathewasindeedentitledtoequalsharewithCaptainGrayinthegloryoftheexpedition,andthatbothmen

weredeservingofgreaterpraisethanCaptainJohnKendrick,whocommandedtheventure,andhadremainedontheWestCoastinthesmallervessel,_LadyWashington_.Itwasbutfiveweeksbeforethatthe_Columbia_haddroppedanchorinBostonharbour,andofficersandcrew,dressedinstrangetribalcostumesofPacificsavages,andaccompaniedbyOpye,aprinceofOwhyee,[1]hadparadedthroughthemainstreetsofthetown.TheyhadbeengivenawelcomethatwasonlyequalledinitswarmthbythataccordedtoGeneralWashingtonafterhisvictoriesoftheRevolution.

SuchwerethetalesthatthesemarinersbroughtbackofthewealthoftheselandswhichhadbeensorecentlydiscoveredbythegreatBritishnavigator,CaptainJamesCook,thatrivalgroupsofmerchantshastened

tooutfitvesselstoparticipateinthenewandlucrativetradeinthehighlyprizedsea-otterpeltsthattheexplorerfoundcouldbepurchasedformeretrifles.True,severaloftheshareholdersinthe _ColumbiaRediviva_and_LadyWashington_,onlearningmoreoftherisksofthecommerce,consideredthattheprofitsalreadyobtainedwerenotsufficienttojustifyfurtherexpendituresanddisposedoftheirinterests.Butthisdidnotdeterothersfromembarkinguponsimilarenterprises.

Soitwasthen,that,aweekafterhisreturn,JosephIngrahamwasapproachedbyatrading-groupinwhichTobiasDrakewaslargelyinterested,withtheofferofthecommandofavessel,andaninterestintheprofits.Whilethecraftchosenfortheadventurewasregarded

bysomeasbeingtoosmallforsuchavoyage,beingabrigantineofbutseventytons,shewasknowntobeastaunchandseaworthylittlevessel.Further,itwasarguedthatsuccessdependedmoreuponthebrainsandabilitiesofthecommanderandthecharacterofthecrewthanuponthesizeoftheship.ActinguponthishypothesisthemerchantshadselectedJosephIngrahamasthemanbestqualifiedfortheposition.Theinducementsofferedhimweresuchthathecouldnotdootherthanacceptthecommand.

Theinterveningtime,therefore,hadbeenoccupiedwiththeoutfitting



ofthe_Hope_andtheselectionofhercrew.Hastewasessential,forotherexpeditionswereinpreparation,andhewellknewthat,inthetradeofthewilderness,asingledaymightmakethedifferencebetweenfailureandthesuccessthatcamewithaholdfilledwithprimepelts.Fordaysallhadbeenbustleaboardthebrigantine.Storesofironbarandcopperandbrass--metalshighlyprizedbythesavages--werereceivedandpiledbelowwithbutscantregardtoproperstowing.Provisionsandsailsandcordageandship'sstoresandgaudyarticlesoftradewerepackedintotheholdtobemoresnuglyarrangedwhenopportunityoffered.Then,too,themagazinehadtobefilledwithpowder,andtheshotlockersstoredwithshotandscrapironandballsa-plenty;boardingnetshadtobefashionedandfitted,andcannonsstationedandswivelsmounted;musketsandpistolsandside-armsandsabresfortheprotectionoftheshipandcrewinthedangerouswaterstheyweretovisithadtobepurchased.Water-caskshadtobefilledtooverflowing,andgreatquantitiesofwoodhadtobecutashoreandtakenaboardforthegalleyandcabinfires.

AndnowJohnCruft,thefirstofficer,reportedthatallthesethingshadbeendone,andthe_Hope_wasreadyforsea.Orderswereimmediatelygivenforhersailingonthenextday.

ItwasshortlyafterdawnwhenCaptainIngrahambadefarewelltohisfamily,andmadehiswaythroughthenowdesertedstreetsofthetown

tothewater-side.Theoutlinesofthe_Hope_assheswungatanchorwerehardlydiscernibleinthecoldgreymiststhatrosefromtheriverandfloateddowntheharbour.Inanswertohiswhistlecameashoutfromthevesselandtherattleandcreakingofdavit-blocksasaboatwaslowered.

Ashedrewhisgreatcoatcloserabouthimandstampedhisfeetontheground,morefromforceofhabitthanfromthechillofthecoldmorningair,heheardhimselfaddressedwith,"Goodmorning,sir."

[Illustration:"GOODMORNING,SIR"]

CaptainIngrahamturnedswiftlytoseeLawrenceDrakeapproaching.

"Oh,it'syou,"hesmiled."You'reupbetimes,youngman."

"Yes,sir,youtoldmeyouwouldsailthismorning,andIdidn'twanttomissyou."

"Well,youcertainlydidn'tletmegetawayfromyou,"andthen,afterapause,"Soyouwanttojointhe_Hope_?"

"Yes,sir."

"Doyourealise,boy,thatshe'saverysmallship,andwe'regoingonaverylonganddangerousvoyage,withonlyanevenchanceofeverreturning?"

"Idon'tmindthat,sir,"wasthequietanswer.

"Youdon't?Well,doyoumindbeingstarvedandperhapsshipwrecked,andpossiblybeingtorturedbyIndians;orbeinglockedupinaSpanishprison:doyoumindthosethings,boy?"

"CertainlyIdo,sir,"repliedLawrence,"andsowouldanyone,buttheyaretherisksthatapersonmusttake,andyouhavefacedthemandwilldosoagain."



Themasterofthe_Hope_regardedthestrong,sturdyframeoftheboyforafullminutewithoutspeaking.Henotedthecleargreyeyesandstrongpurposefulmouthandsquarechinwhich,intheboyishface,gavepromiseofadeterminedandresourcefulmanhood.

"Youarenotrunningawayfromhome?"hedemandedwithanoteofseverityinhisvoice.

"No,sir.Ihavenohome.Myparentsaredead."

"Haveyounorelatives?"

"Nonethatcareswhathappenstome."

"Oh,youhaverelations--hereinBoston?"andhewatchedtheboynarrowly.

"Anuncle,sir,"answeredLawrencewithsomehesitancy;"butIonlysawhimonce--yesterday--andwedidn'tgetonverywelltogether."

Ashadowofasmileplayedaboutthecornersofthecaptain'smouth."Whatwasthetrouble?"heasked.

"Iwouldsoonernotdiscussit,"repliedLawrence;"butI'mnotrunningaway,"hehastenedtoadd."Igiveyoumywordonthat,sir."

"Ibelieveyou,boy,"wasthekindlyanswer."AndI'lltakeyou.I'minneedofanotherapprentice.IhaveoneandIcandowithanother.Butmindyou,"hewarned,astheladsoughttoexpresshisthanks,"you'llhavetobehaveyourself.I'llstandfornononsense."

"I'lldomybest,sir."

"You'llneedsomethings,"wentonthecaptain,"andyou'dbettergetthemandcomeaboardofftheCastleRock;we'llanchorthere.DoyouknowwheretheCastleRockis?"

"No,sir,butI'llfindit."

"Verywell.You'llneedsomemoneyforyourpurchases?I'lladvanceyoualittle."

"Thankyou,butIhavesome,"andtheboysteppedback.

"Verywell,"andhewentontoenumeratetherequirementsforthevoyage.The"slopchest"ofthe_Hope_,heexplained,waswellsuppliedwithgarmentsformen,butitwasnotstockedwithclothingsuitableforanapprentice.

"HereisyoungBurbank,"heexclaimedastheship'sboatdrewalongside,indicatingadark-complexionedyouthseatedinthesternsheets.HewasaboutthesameageasLawrence."He'dbettergoalongwithyou,"addedthecaptainashemotionedtheladtocomeashore.

"Kenneth,"hesaid,"thisisLawrenceDrakewhowillsailwithusandbeyourcompanion.HehastogetsomethingsandwillcomeaboardofftheCastle.You'dbettergoalongwithhim."



"Yes,sir";andtheboysshookhands.

[1]ThespellingofHawaiiasgiveninthejournalofthe_Hope_,"Owhyee"isgivenhere,asthespellingofCaptainIngraham'slogwillbeadheredtoinreferencetootherplace-names.

CHAPTERII

UNCHARTEDWATERS

AfterCaptainIngrahamleftthemtheboysstoodlookingateachotherforseveralminuteswithoutspeaking.ThenKennethstartedtolaugh,andLawrencejoinedinhismerriment.

"Iguessweareacoupleofninnies,"heexclaimed,"standingheresayingnothing.Wearetobetogetherforacoupleofyears,andherearewegapingatoneanotherlikeapairofsimpletons."

"Yes,"respondedtheother,"let'sgetacquainted.MynameisKenneth

Burbank--Idon'tknowifthecaptaintoldyou."

"Mine'sLawrenceDrake."

"Toolong--Lawrence,"commentedKenneth,"I'llhavetocallyou'Larry.'"

"Thatsuitsme,ifIcancallyou'Ken.'"

"Agreed.Nowhowoldareyou,andwheredoyoucomefrom?"

"I'msixteen,andIhailfromHalifax."

"Oh,you'reaBritisher?"

"Yes,andI'mnotashamedofiteither."

"Well,there'snoreasontogethotaboutit,"observedKennethwithasmile."I'manAmerican;borninNewHampshire--that'swheremyfolksare--sixteenyearsago.I'mnotblamingyouforhavingcausedtheRevolution.Reckonneitherofuswasresponsibleforthat.Anyway,we'reofthesamestock,andthatmeansalot."

"You'reright,"admittedLawrence,"andtotellyouthetruth,Idon'tblamethecoloniesforrebelling.IguessIlookatitdifferentlyfrommyfather.Hewasastrongloyalist,andusedtolivehere.He

wenttoHalifaxbeforethewarandmarriedandIwasbornthere.Anyway,theRevolutionisoverandwe'llhaveenoughtodototakecareofourselveswithoutworryingoverthingsthathavebeensettled.Haveyoueverbeentoseabefore?"

"Foraboutsixmonths.IwasonapacketrunningbetweenhereandNewYork--that'sall.Thisisgoingtobeadifferentthingaltogether.Itsgoingtobearealvoyage,andwe'reluckytobemakingit."

Astheyweretalkingtheboyshadbeenwalkingup-town,andnowthey



turnedintoStateStreettowardsthe"BunchofGrapes,"thehostelrywhereLawrencehadputuponhisarrival.

"Say,you'reafineBritisher,youare,"laughedKenneth,"stoppingatthistavern.Itwasoneofthebreeding-placesoftheRevolution."

"Ican'thelpthat.IfIwastoavoidalltheplacesinBostonthathadanythingtodowiththeoldtrouble,I'mafraidI'dhavetofollowtheteaandstayintheharbour.MyfatherstayedherewhenhefirstcamefromEngland,andheusedtotellmeofthefinemealstheyserved.TheymayhavechangedthenameofthestreetfromKingtoState,butevidentlytheyhaven'tchangedthequalityofthefood;butlet'stryit.Ihaven'thadbreakfastyet."

Theboysdidamplejusticetothegoodlybreakfast-tableprovidedbyLandlordJamesVila,andthenwenttoLawrence'sroom.Heretheysortedoverthecontentsofhiswell-stockedwoodenchest,andfoundthathehadbutfewpurchasestomake.

"I'vegottoseeamerchantherenamedBulfinch,"Lawrencesaid."He'sagentforthemanwholooksaftermyestateinHalifax;butthatwon'ttakelong.Thenwe'llvisittheshops."

ItdidnottakelongforLawrencetotransacthisbusinesswiththe

merchant,andthentheyvisiteddifferentstoresandsecuredthethingsofwhichhewasinneed.HeaddedtothelistofarticlesCaptainIngrahamhadadvisedhimtosecureseveralbooksonnavigation.

Returningtothetavern,theboyspackedthechest,andleavingsomethingsthatLawrencedecidednottotakewithhiminchargeofthelandlord,theyhadtheboxcartedtothewaterfront.OntheadviceofKenneththeyremainedtolunchatthe"BunchofGrapes.""Yousee,"headvisedwiththewisdomacquiredbyevenhisshortexperienceofthesea,"it'llbealongtimebeforewehavethechancetoeatarealgoodmealagain.We'llbeeatingsaltmeatandsauerkrauteverydayfromnowtillwetouchatsomeforeignport."

"Well,Idon'tmindthesaltmeat,butwhyeatsauerkrauteveryday?Idon'tcareforthatprospect;willtherebeanythingelse?"

"Ohyes,"laughedKenneth,"we'llgetsea-biscuitandwhateverthecookcanmake;butallthesamesaltmeatand'krautwillbeourmainstaysinthefoodline.Sauerkrautisasortofmedicinetokeepthescurvyaway.ItwasCaptainCookwhodiscoveredhowtofightthescurvy,whichhasalwaysbeentheterrorofsailors.Hefoundoutthatitwascausedthroughtoomuchsaltmeat,sohetookalongpickledcabbageandsprucebeer,andbyfeedinghismenwithlotsofvegetableswhenhecouldgetthemandhaving'krautandsprucebeerwhenhecouldn'tgetgreens,hekeptthemwell.CaptainIngrahamsaysthatCookdidmoreforhumanitybyfindingacureforscurvythanbydiscoveringallthe

placeshedidinthePacific."

"Butwon'twetouchanywheretillwegettotheNorth-WestCoast?"askedLawrenceinamazement.

"Ohyes,we'llgofromheretoCapeVerdeIslands;thenwe'llstopforwoodandwaterattheFalklandIslandsbeforewedoubleCapeHorn.That'swherewe'llmeetwithroughweather,Mr.Cruftsays."

"Who'sMr.Cruft?"



"He'sthefirstofficer--andafinemanheistoo;soisMr.Crafts,he'sthesecondmate."

"Funnytheyshouldhavenamessomuchalike,"commentedLawrence;"butIguessit'stimetogo,"hesaid,lookingathiswatch.So,payingthescore,theysalliedoutandmadetheirwaytotheharbour-front,wheretheysoonhiredaboatmantotakethemandthechestdowntowherethe_Hope_layatanchoroffCastleRock.

Shortlyaftertheycameaboard,thebrigantinemoveddownundereasysailtoNantasketRoads,whereanchorwasagaindropped,andtheresheremaineduntilthefollowingmorning.

ThecrossingoftheAtlantictotheCapeVerdeIslandswasmadewithoutincident,anduponarrivingatthePortuguesesettlementwoodandwaterweretakenonboardandfreshprovisionswereobtained.Heretoothecargowasproperlystowedwhilethewantsofthevesselwerebeingsuppliedfromshore.Afterastayofseveraldaysthe_Hope_againsetsail.

ThenextstopwasmadeattheFalklandIslands,whereprovision,wood,andwater-storeswerereplenishedaftermuchbargainingwiththeSpanishofficials,andhastewasmadetoclearawaytotakeadvantage

oftheprevailingfineweathertorounddreadedCapeHorn.Thiswasaccomplished,andnow,sevenmonthsafterleavingBoston,thelittleboatwasbravelypushingherwaynorthwardthroughthebrilliantblueoftropicalseas.

AtfirstLawrenceDrakehadbeenseasick,buthesoonrecoveredfromtheattack,andbeforetheAfricanislandshadbeenreachedhehadacquiredhissea-legs.Bothboysweresoonestablishedinthegoodopinionsofofficersandcrewalike.Lawrenceespeciallywasthefavouriteofanoldseaman,JimPotts--"Tinpots"hewascalledbyhismessmates,--whohadsailedwiththefamousCaptainCook,whileKenneth,withakeenappreciationofpossiblefuturefavours,madefriendswithNicholas,theblackcook.

Thecrewofthe_Hope_hadbeenselectedbyCaptainIngraham,notalonebecauseoftheirqualificationsasseamen,butbyreasonoftheirpersonalhabitsanddispositions.Themajorityofthemhadbeenrecruitedfrommenwhohadbeenwithhimonthe_Columbia_andothervessels.Alltoldtherewerebutseventeenaboardthebrigantine,sothetaskofrecruitingacrewwellsuitedforsuchavoyagehadnotbeenadifficultone.

Thecaptainandhismateswereespeciallykindtotheboys,andtookpainstoassisttheminmasteringthescienceofthesea.Consequentlythelads,whohadspenttheirsparetimewiththeirbooks,werenowfairlywellversedintheelementsofnavigation.

"What'sthedate?"Kennethaskedoneafternoon.

"Aprilthefourteenth,"answeredLawrence.

"Isit?Well,to-morrow'smybirthday."

"Threecheersforyou--let'scelebrateit."

"How?"



"Oh,Idon'tknow--butlet'sdoit,anyway.I'llseeifNicholascan'tgiveussomethingbutboiledsaltbeeffortheoccasion."

"Goonwithyou,"laughedhischum,"he'llgiveusboiledsaltpork--andIdon'tknowwhichistheworst."

"Look--what'sthat?"exclaimedLawrence,excitedlypointingtowardsthedistanthorizon."Yes--it'sland:we'llcelebrateallright";andheranaftwiththenews.

CaptainIngrahamhurriedondeck."Yes,"hesaid,afterinspectingthetinyspeckthroughhistelescope,"it'slandsureenough.ItmustbeoneoftheislandsoftheMarquesasgroup."

Bynightfallthe_Hope_wasonlyafewleaguesfromtheisland,andthenextmorningtheshorelinecouldbeplainlyseenwithouttheaidofglasses.Thewindfellawayandthevessellaybecalmedforsomehours.

"It'sKen'sbirthday,"Lawrenceobservedtothecaptain,"andIwaswonderingifwecouldn'tcelebrateitinsomeway."

"Iwishwecould;butifwedon'tgetanycloser,Idon'tseemuchchanceofgettingfreshmeatorgreensfromtheland."

"Perhapswecouldcatchsomefish,sir."

"Well,youcantry."

ThetwochumsandTinpotsweresoonfishingwithdeeplines.Atlasttheoldsailorhadastrikethatnearlypulledhimoverboard."'Elp,'elp,"hecalled,"I'vecaughtawhale."

Lawrencerushedtohisassistanceandheldonwithhimtothestoutline,whileanotherseamancaughtupaharpoonand,asasharkbrokewater,threwitwithaccurateaim.Atremendousfightfollowed,buteventuallythefishwasexhaustedandwasdrawntotheship'sside.A

ropewasnoosedandpassedaboutit,anditwashauledtothedeckwhereitwasfinallykilledwithanaxe.

"Hurrah!"shoutedLawrence."Didn'tItellyou,Ken,we'dhavesomethingforyourbirthdayparty?It'snotmuch,butIguessashark'sbetterforachangethansaltbeefisforsaltpork.TheysaytheChinesethinksharks'finsareagreatdelicacy.MaybeNicholascanmakeittastegood."Andsotheblackcookdid.

Withtheapproachofeveningthebreezefreshenedenoughtocarrythe _Hope_closertotheland.Acanoeputofffromtheshore,bearingtwonativeboys.Itwasfollowedafewmomentslaterbyanoldmaninanotherdugout.

Everyinducementwasheldouttothemtoenticethemonboard,buttheyresolutelyrefusedtoleavetheirboats.Ahandkerchiefwasthrownoverboard,andasitdriftedasternoneoftheyoungsavagespickeditup,onlytohavetheoldmanrangehiscanoealongsidethatbearingtheyouthsandtakeitawayfromthelad.Havingpossessedhimselfofthebitofcloth,theoldmanstoodupinhiscanoeandpluckedahandfulofhairfromhisbeard.Thisheblewtowardstheship.

"Ihopehe'sgivingusgoodwinds,"laughedthefirstmate.



Thebrigantinestoodoffforthenight,butatdaylightreturnedandenteredastraitbetweentwooftheislands.Hardlyhadthevesselpassedbetweentheheadlandsthanshewassurroundedbyafleetofcanoesfilledwithnakedsavages,whobroughtpresentsoffishandfruit,whichtheytossedonboardastheypaddledalongside.

Notcertainoftheintentionsofthenatives,thecaptainhadtheboarding-netshoistedandthecrewarmed,butthevisitorswereactuatedbycuriosity,notmalice.Theypaddledaroundandaroundthebrig,jabberingandshouting,whilesomeclungtothesidesofthevesselandpeeredthroughthecabinports.Onseeingtheboysinsidetheybecamewildlyexcited.

"It'sallright,butthey'remightyfamiliarforpeoplewhohaven'tbeenintroduced,"laughedKenneth,andhemadeagrimaceandwavedhishandsatoneoldfellowwhohadhisnosepressedagainsttheglass.Thenativewassoastonishedhesprangbackwardsandfelloutofhiscanoe,totheamusementofhiscompanions.

Thebreezestrengthened,andthevoyagewascontinueduntillateintheafternoon,whenanchorwasdroppedinapleasantbay,describedonCaptainCook'schartasPortMadredeDios.

Foratimenoneofthenatives,whocouldbeseeninconsiderablenumbersonthebeach,approached.Thenawhite-hairedoldmancamenearinhiscanoe,andwas,aftermuchpersuasion,inducedtocomeonboard.Hebroughtaloadoffishandfruitwithhim,andforthishewasgivenaknife.Highlydelighted,hemadeoff,andsoonscoresofnatives,encouragedbythesuccessoftheoldfellow'sventure,surroundedthevessel,offeringanabundanceoffreshfruits,vegetables,andfishforsale.

Asdarknesswasapproaching,CaptainIngraham,whodidnotrelishhavingsavagesabouttheshipatnight,hoistedawhiteflag,andcalledinthelanguageoftheSandwichIslandsthattheshipwas"taboo."Thesignalandwordwereevidentlywellunderstood,forthe

canoeswereturnedtowardstheshore.

Assoonasitwasdaylightthenativescamebackinhordes,andsoontherewerehundredsofcanoes,filledwithmenandwomen,crowdedaboutthevessel,whilescoresmore,whocouldnotfindtransportfromtheshoreinthedugoutsoftheirfriends,swamouttotheshipandsoughttoclimbonboard.Theboarding-netsweresoonfilledwiththem,andsuchwerethenumbersandweightofthesavagesthatseveralholeswerebrokeninthestoutnets,whiletheshipcommencedtolistbadly.

"Idon'tknowwhatwe'lldotogetridofthem,"observedthecaptain."Idon'twanttohurtthem,andwemustgetourwater-casksfilled."

"Whynotgetthemtofillthecasks?"Kennethsuggested.

"That'sagoodidea,"agreedthefirstmate,andhemotionedtoasavagewhoappearedtobeachieftain,andthen,goingthroughthemotionsofdrinking,hepointedtoanemptybarrel.Thiswasthrownoverboard.Thechiefknewwhatwasdesiredofhim,forhesecuredthecask,andhavinggotitintohiscanoe,paddledfortheshore.Nowallthenativeswantedcasks,butthesewererefuseduntilthechiefreturnedwithhisbarrelfilledwithfreshwater,andreceivedaknifeforhistrouble.Alltheemptycaskswerenowthrownintothewater,



andthereensuedawildscrambleforthem.Eventuallytheyweredistributedamongthestrongest,andwithinashorttimewerereturnedtotheship,filledwithwater.

Severalpigswerepurchased;butthetradeinthiscommoditywassoondiscontinued,forthesavagesrefusedtotakethearticlesofferedtotheminexchange,demandingwhatevertooktheirfancyaboutthevesselasthepriceforthepork.

Alimitednumberhadbeenpermittedtocomeonboardforthepurposesoftrading,and,theirexorbitantdemandshavingbeenrefused,theybecametroublesome.Onebigsavageinvadedthegalley,whereNicholasthreatenedhimwithaknife.Heretreated,onlytoreturnwithhiscompanionsinaraidonthecook'squarters,seizinghispots,pans,andcookingutensils.

Nicholasfoughtfuriouslyagainstthemobthatcrowdedintothenarrowconfinesofhisgalley.Whatmighthavebeentheoutcomeoftheraidwasdoubtful,hadnotLawrenceandseveralseamencometotherescueofthehard-pressedblack,withdrawnsabres.Upontheirappearancethesavagesfled,takingwiththem,however,halftheequipmentofthecookhouse.

"Cleartheship,"commandedCaptainIngraham,andthecrewmadearush

atthenatives,whowerecrowdingoverthesidetothedeck.Thesavagesfled,jumpingoverboard,and,regainingtheircanoes,paddledaway.Soontherewasnotasinglesmallcraftabouttheship.

Asnightfellgreatfireswerelightedonthebeach,andaboutthesehundredsofsavagescouldbeseendancing,whilethebeatingoftom-tomsandthewild,barbaricsongsandshoutingsbetokenedanunusualagitationamongthetribesmen.

"Idon'tlikethelookofit,"declaredJohnCrafts,asheandLawrencestoodonthedecklateatnightwatchingthedistantfires."They'reuptosomedevilment,youmaybesure.Youcannevertrustsavages.They'reyourfriendsoneminuteandthenextthey'rereadytomurder

you."

"Look!"suddenlywhisperedLawrence,andhecaughthiscompanionbythearm."Look--lookthere;see,inthereflectionofthatcentrefire."

Thesecondmatelookedashewasdirected.Theformsofseveralcanoescouldbeseenapproachingtheship.

"Runquick,"orderedtheofficer,"callthecrewtomantheguns,butdon'tmakeanynoise."

Lawrencedartedawaytodoashewastold,andinlittlemorethanaminutewasaftagain.Thefour-poundersandswivelshadbeenloaded

beforedark,andnowthemenquietlytooktheirstationsandwaited.Thecaptainhadbeeninformedoftheapproachofthecanoes,andhewasincommandwhenLawrencereturned.

"Firehigh,men:wedon'twanttohurtthem,"wastheorderthatwaspassedfromguntogun.

Nowthecanoescouldbedimlydiscernedagainstthelightershadeofthewater,onlyafewyardsfromtheship.



"Allright,men--ready--fire!"

Therewasadeafeningroarasthefour-poundersandswivelsflashedfireacrossthecalmwaters,followedbyshrieksoffrightandamazementfromthesavagesinthecanoes,whichwereechoedbyhalfathousandthroatsonshore.

"Idon'tthinkthey'llbotherusanymoreto-night,"saidthecaptain,asthesoundofthesavages'paddlesdiedawayinthedistance.

Despitetheincident,thenativescameoffingreaternumbersthaneverassoonasitwasdaylight.Theforemostcanoesboregreatbunchesofevergreensandbranchesoftreesastokensofpeace.Itwassoonevident,however,thattheirintentionswerenotpacific,fornosoonerhadtheyreachedthe_Hope_thanwithlongsticksandpaddlestheyattackedthecabinwindows,breakingseveralbeforetheycouldbedrivenaway.

"Givethemachargefromthefour-pounder,"shoutedthecaptain.Justashespokehewasfelledbyastick,thrownbyasavageofgiganticproportions,whostoodupinhiscanoetohurlit.

Kennethseizedamusketandfiredatthenative.Hemissedhim,butsplinteredacanoenearby.

Thefour-pounderwasfiredovertheheadsofthemob,andthecriesofterroranddefiancemingledweredeafeningtohear.Thegunwasrunback,andanotherchargewasrammedhome.

Therefollowedaterrificexplosion,andwithascreamofpainMr.Cruft,whohadchargeofthecannon,reeledback,tobecaughtbyLawrenceashefell.Inreloadingthegunhehadneglectedtospongeit,andthechargehadprematurelyexploded,tearingawayaportionoftheunfortunatefirstofficer'scheek.

Withtheassistanceofaseamantheinjuredmanwascarriedtohiscabin,wherethesecondmate,whohadsomeknowledgeofmedicine,

attendedhim.

Theaccident,whichcausedalouderandmoreterrifyingexplosionthanthepreviousdischarge,sentthenativespaddlingwildlyforshore.

Therewassomeconfusionondeckatthemoment,butthevoiceofCaptainIngrahamrestoredorder."Steady,men;steady,"hecalled,andproceededtogiveinstructionsforthehoistingoftheanchorandthesailingofthevessel.

CHAPTERIII

TROUBLEBREWING

AfterleavingtheMarquesasthe_Hope_headedforthenorth-west,andlateintheafternoonagainsightedlandintheshapeoftwotinyspotsonthehorizon.

Afterstudyingthedistantislandsintentlyforsometimethroughhisglass,thecaptainsentforTinpots.Theseamancameaftand,touching



hisforehead,waited,whilethecaptaincalledtoLawrence:"RuntomycabinandbringmeCaptainCook'schart."

Whentheboyreturnedwiththemap,CaptainIngrahamspreaditoutandporedoveritforafewmomentswithoutspeaking;then,turningtothesailor:"Potts,youwerewithCaptainCook?"

"Aye,aye,sir."

"Youremembertheislandswejustleft?"

"ThatIdo."

"Well,didyoutouchatthoseislandsahead?"

"No,sir,wedidnot:weneverspied'em.Maybethey'srisenfromtheseasince,byyerleave.Hifthey'dbeenthereCaptainCookweren'tonetomiss'em.Theymustbenewones."

Thecaptainsmiledattheoldman'snotion,wellknowinghisvenerationfortheBritishnavigator.Hecontinuedhisexaminationofthechartforatimeandthen,withjustatraceofexcitementinhisvoice:"See;Cookboreawayfromthem;hecouldn'thaveseenthem,andIdon'tthinkanyoneelsehaseither.We'rethediscoverersofanewgroup--an

Americangroup!We'llplanttheStarsandStripesintheSouthSeasbyrightofdiscovery."

Thefollowingmorningtheywereabreastoftheislandstheyhadfirstsighted,andfoundthatthereweretwoothersinthegroup.Thecaptain,aftervainlysearchingforaharbour,calledthecrewaft.

"Men,"hesaid,"we'vefoundanewlotofislands,andI'mgoingtoclaimthemfortheUnitedStates,aswearethefirstwhitepersonstoseethem."

Theseamenansweredwithacheer.

"I'mgoingtoletMr.Craftsnamethefirstone,"wentonthecaptain.

"Well,"demurredthesecondofficer,"Mr.Cruftisconsciousnow,andashe'snotabletobeondeck,Ithinkperhapsheshouldhavethehonourofnamingit.I'llgoandseehim."

WhilethesecondofficerwasabsentTinpotsedgedclosetoLawrenceandcomplainedinawhisper,"They'snewhislands,sir,orelseCaptainCook'dha'seen'em.'Ewould--'enevermissedanything."

"Perhapsyou'reright;butIdon'tthinkso.Hemighthavepassedtheminthenight.Anyway,youandIareBritishersandwe'resailingunderAmericancolours,andwe'resportsmenenoughtocheertheotherfellow

whenhedoessomething."

"Yes,sir,maybeso,"grumbledtheoldsalt;"butHidon'tknow--CaptainCook,'ewereintheseparts,and'eusedtosmellhislands,'edid--leastwaysthat'swhatwethought.Butmaybeitwerenight,asyousays;an'again,'emight'a'beeninsucha'urrytofind'emSandwichHislands'edidn'tbotherwiththeseones."

"Thatmustbethereason,"Lawrencesmiled,andtheoldfellow'sfacebrightened.



Thesecondofficerreturned."Mr.CruftwouldlikeyoutocalltheislandafterGeneralWashington,"hesaid;andoncemorethesailorscheered,andTinpotsshoutedlouderthananyoftheothers.

"Thenwewillhonourthisislandwiththenameofourillustriouspresident,"solemnlyannouncedthecaptain,"andtheotherislandswewillcall,'Federal,'fortheUnitedStates;'Adams,'forthevice-president;andthefourthonewewillname'Lincoln,'forGeneralLincoln.IwantyoumentobearwitnessthatIhavesonamedthem,andthatItakepossessionofthemfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica.And,"hewentonaftertherenewedapplausehadsubsided,"inhonouroftheevent,IthinkyoushouldbeservedwithalittlesomethingwithwhichtotoastthehealthsofthePresident,Vice-President,GeneralLincoln,andtheprosperityoftheRepublic."

Thateveningaconferencewasheldinthecabinofthewoundedmate,andtheboyswerebothinvitedtobepresent.

"IfearitwillbesomelittletimebeforeMr.Cruftisabletotakehiswatchondeck,"saidthecaptain,"andwhileheislaidup,Mr.Craftswill,ofcourse,actaschiefofficer,andoneofyouboys--Idon'tcarewhichone--willactassecondmate."

"LetitbeKen,sir,"spokeupLawrence."He'solderthanIam,andhe'sbeenatsealonger,soheshouldtakeprecedence."

"Itisnotfair,"respondedKenneth."LarryknowsasmuchaboutnavigationasIdo,andbesidesI'monlysixmonthsolder----"

"Well,wewon'thaveanyquarrellingoverit,"interruptedthecaptain."Burbank,youact,andDrakecanspelloffwithyou."

"Thankyou,sir."

"NowwemustdecidewhetherwewillheadfortheNorth-WestCoast,ormaketheSandwichIslands.That'sthepointtobesettled."

Thequestionwasarguedatsomelength,thesecondmateandthecaptaindoingthetalking.Mr.CraftsarguedinfavourofstoppingattheSandwichIslandstoreplenishthestocksofwaterandprovisions,whilethecaptainwasforpressingontotheAmericancoast.

Thematterwasfinallyreferredtothefirstofficer,whoindicatedthathefavouredaneffortbeingmadetoreachthefurfields,andsoitwasdecided.

Twomoreislandswerediscoveredthenextday,andthesewithsimilarceremonieswerechristenedHancoxandKnoxIslands.

ItwasnearlyamonthlaterthatKennethdiscoveredonedaythattherewerebutfivecasksofwaterremaining,andthat,owingtosuccessivecalmsandhead-winds,butcomparativelylittleprogresshadbeenmadetowardsNootkaSound.HecommunicatedthefacttoMr.Cruft,whowasnowabletotakeapartinnavigatingtheship.

Anotherconferencewasheld,anditwasdecidedtomakeallpossiblesailtowardstheSandwichIslands,whichwerebutafewdays'distance.Thiswasdone,and,on20May,theislandofOwhyeewassighted.Asthe_Hope_nearedlandanativecameoffinacanoe,andwasinstantly



recognisedbythecaptainasoneoftheislandershehadmetonhispreviousvoyage.

"Where'sTiana?"queriedthecaptain,whenthemancameonboard.

"WatchoutforTiana,"wastheanswergiveninthenativelanguage,whichwasunderstandabletoseveralofthecrewaswellasCaptainIngraham."Tianaisbadman.Hecapturedashipandkilledallthewhitemen."

"WhoisTiana?"Lawrenceaskedthefollowingday.

"He'saprincewhoissupposedtobefriendlytothewhites,"answeredthefirstmate,"butIdon'tlikehim.HewastakentoChinaonavoyagebyCaptainMearesseveralyearsago,andspeaksEnglishverywell.Idon'ttrusthimatall."

"IthinkweshouldseeTiana,ifhe'sabouthere,"observedthecaptainafewmomentslater."Wouldyoufireagun,Mr.Cruft,sohewillknowwearehere."

Itwaswithevidentreluctancethatthefirstofficerapproachedthegunandtoucheditoff.Hethenproceededtoreloadit,butfailedtostopthevent,andagaintherewasaprematureexplosion,andwitha

cryofpainhestumbledbackandcollapsedonthedeck,hisfacedelugedinblood.

"Thisisterrible,"exclaimedthecaptain,aswiththeassistanceofLawrencehecarriedthewoundedmantohiscabin."I'mafraidtheshockwillbetoomuchforhim.Wehavenodoctor,andheneedsgreatcare,forhehadnotrecoveredfromhislastaccident."

"Ifyou'llletme,I'lldowhatIcaninthewayofnursinghim,"volunteeredtheboy.

"Allright;butyou'dbetterhavesomeonetorelieveyou,forhe'llneedconstantattention."

"I'dlikeTinpots,sir."

"Tinpots?Oh,youmeanPotts.Allright."

Lawrencestayedwiththeinjuredanddeliriousofficerthroughoutthenight,moisteninghislipswithwateranddoingallthathecouldtorelievethepain.Inthemorningtheoldsailorcameonduty.Hisyearsofexperienceinnavallifemadehimaninvaluableassistantinsuchanemergency.Heseemedtoknowinstinctivelywhatwastheproperthingtodo,anddespitehisroughappearancehewasasgentleasawoman.

Fornearlyaweekoneorotherwasconstantlyatthebedsideofthewoundedman,attendingtohiseverywish.

"What'sbeenhappening?"Lawrenceinquiredoneevening,ashewasabouttogoonsick-watch,andstoppedforafewmoments'chatwithhischum.

"Oh,enough,"answeredKenneth;"--enough,Larry,tomakemebelievethere'ssometroublebrewing.Tianawasonboard.He'saboldladallright,andIdon'tcareforhim.Hehadaletterfromthecaptainofthe_GustavusIII_,sayingwhatafinefellowhewas,andanother



certificateofcharacterwithanoteattached,whichcertainlylooksasifthere'sastormdueatNootkabetweentheBritishandSpaniards.Imanagedtocopypartofit.Hereitisjustasitwaswritten:

"'TheabovewasobtainedfromLieutenantKemp,commandingthesloop _PrincessRoyal_(belongingtotheHonourableSouthSeaCompanyofEngland),andcapturedbytheSpaniardsinNootkaSoundinJuly1789,andatthistimenavigatingunderSpanishcoloursandapassporttoManila,andfromthencetoMacao,tobedelivereduptotheowners'agentsresidingthere.

"'CaptainColnett,ofthe_Argonaut_,whowasalsocapturedwiththesloop_PrincessRoyal_anddetainedtillthe1stofJune,1790,prisonerstogetherwiththeofficersandcrewsofbothvessels,wereorderedonboardthe_Argonaut_toproceedtoNootkaandtakepossessionofthe_PrincessRoyal_,shebeingthenemployedintheSpanishservice.The_Argonaut_proceededtoNootka,butthe_PrincessRoyal_hadsailedafteraseriesofmisfortunesandthelossofthirty-fourmen,eighteenofwhichdeserted,anddiedinSpanishprisons.TheothersixteendiedorweredrownedofftheCoastofAmerica.

"'Sincetheliberationofthe_Argonaut_shearrivedinthebayof

Tirooa,Owhyee,wherethe_PrincessRoyal_wasthenriding.CaptainColnetthasalsobeentreatedbyTianaandMaiha'Maihaineveryrespectashewished,everythingtheislandproducedbeingathiscommand.

"'_Argonaut_,4April,1790.'"

"ItcertainlylooksasiftheDonswereseekingtrouble,don'tit?"addedKenneth.

"Andthey'llgetit,too,"hotlyexclaimedLawrence,"youcanbetonthat.WhentheygettoseizingBritishvessels,there'sgoingtobesomebody'sbeardburned,ormyname'snotDrake."

"ThegreatAdmiralDrakewhosingedtheSpanishking'sbeardinElizabeth'stimewasn'tyourforefather,washe?"

"Samefamily;butthat'snotthequestion.There'llberealtroubleoverthisthingwhentheyhearofitinEngland.ButIsay,"headded,"fromthatnoteitwouldappearthatthisTianaisadecentsort."

"Well,thatletterwouldcertainlymakeyouthinkso;butthere'sastorygoingaroundabouthimhavingcapturedasmallvesselandkilledthecrew.Thecaptainisn'ttakinganychancesonTiana.Theboarding-netsareupallthetimeandthemenarecarryingtheirmusketsandcutlassesallthetime.We'vebeenstandingawayoff

shore,andTianatriedhardtogetustorunincloseandanchor;buthewasover-anxious,andMr.Craftssawhimmakingsignstoabunchofcanoesthatwerestandingbywhilehewasonboard.HewasalsotryingtofindoutfromNicholasandsomeofthemenhowmanygunswehave,andtheamountofammunitionwe'recarrying.Altogether,Mr.Tianaisn'tverypopularherejustnow.

"Thecaptainwasverynicetohiminordertogetwaterandprovisions,andwemanagedtogetsome,butnotenough.Fromwhatthecaptainhaslearned,andbyreasonofhissuspicions,hehasconcludednottostay



herelonger,forfearoftrouble,sowe'reonlywaitingforabreezetomoveofftoanotherisland."

"Wherearewegoing?"

"ToRapo'rapoBay,intheIslandofMorokinnee.Thecaptainhasbeentherebefore,andthinkswe'llhavenotroubletocompleteourwateringatthatplace."

Lawrencewasdozingoffwhen,aboutdaybreak,hewasawakenedbyaterrificsmashingandpoundingondeck,theyellingofexcitedmen,andthepitchingandtossingofthebrig.Hehurriedtothedecktofindallinwildconfusion.Theseawasrunninghigh,andafour-pounderhadbrokenfromitslashingsandwascareeningaboutthedeck.Abreachshowedinthestarboardbulwarkwherethegunhadsmashedagainstit,andthecombingofthemainhatchwassplinteredandbroken.

"Lookout!"calledaseaman;andLawrencesprangasidejustintimetoescapedeathorinjuryasthegun,likeathingpossessedoflife,chargedwildlydownuponhim.Oneofthesailorswasnursingacrushedhand,whileanother,whohadattemptedtostopthemadcourseofthereelinggun-carriage,hadbeengashedinthethigh.

"Now,men,"calledthecaptain,ashedoubledastoutropeandstarted

downtothewelldeck,"I'lltryandnooseit,andyoustandbytogivemeahand."

"Letmedoit,"volunteeredLawrence."I'msmallerthanyou,andbesides,withMr.Cruftwounded,you'venorighttoriskyourlife."

CaptainIngrahamhesitatedforasecond."You'reright,"hesaid,andhandedtheropetotheboy.

Lawrenceleftoneendoftheropewiththecaptain,andnoosedandcoiledtheother;watchingthegunheadvancedcautiously.Theshiprosetoaswell,andthecannonhurtleddownathim.Hewaiteduntilithadalmostreachedhim,andthendodgedtoonesideand,asitshot

past,hethrewthenoose,butmissed.Thebrigsteadiedforaninstantonthetopofthewaveandthenplunged,nosedeep,intotheseaahead,sendingsprayandspumeoverthedecks,andshootingthewild,rampaginggunforward.Astheboatrose,thewheeledcarriagespunroundandcameatLawrenceagain.Heretreatedafewpacestowhereithadstoppedbefore,anticipatingthatthewavethe_Hope_wasmeetingwasofsimilarsizetothelastone.Hewasright.Thevesselsteadiedherselfforthefractionofasecondonthecrestoftheseabeforestartingtoplunge.Inthatbriefpartofasecondtheboythrewthenooseanditfelloverthemuzzle.Quickasaflashthecaptainsnubbedtheropeaboutthemast,andgentlypaiditoutasthestraintightened.

Theboynowdashedforward,anditwasbuttheworkofamomenttosecuretheotherendofthelineandholdtheguncaptivelongenoughtoallowtheseamentosecurelyfastenitwithadditionalropestothering-boltsonthegun-portsoneithersideofthedeck.

"Thankyou,Mr.Drake,I'llnotforgetthis,"wasallthatthecaptainsaid;butLawrenceblushedandstammered,"Itwasnothing,sir."

"Nothing!"shoutedKenneth."You'reahero--that'swhatyouare,and----"



BeforehecouldsaymoreLawrencefledtoMr.Cruft'scabin,wherehefoundthewoundedmaninahighstateofexcitement,withTinpotsendeavouringtocalmhimandkeephiminhisberth.

"What'sthematter?"theofficerwhisperedthroughhisbandages.

"Notmuch,sir.Justagungotloose."

"Notmuch--agunloose--notmuch!"exclaimedTinpots."Hishitfastened?"

"Oh,yes,theysecureditallright."

"Notmuch!"repeatedtheseaman."Hitcouldn'tbeworseoutsideo'awreckorabroadsidefromabattleship."

Thechiefofficernoddedweaklyinsupportoftheoldman'sdeclaration.

Tinpotsleftthecabin,onlytoreturnamomentlaterwithhisfacewreathedinsmiles."Beggin'yerpardon,sir,"hesaid,addressingthemate,"buthitwere'imasstoppedthegun,"andheindicatedhisfavouritewithagnarledandwork-wornthumb.

"Goon--getoutofhere,"shoutedtheboy.

CHAPTERIV

THEBRIGATTACKED

Whenthe_Hope_roundedthepointandenteredRapo'rapoBayagunwasfiredtoapprisetheinhabitantsofthearrivalofthevessel,asCaptainIngrahamwasanxioustohavethenativescommencetradingasearlyaspossible.Itwasherethatheexpectedtocompletethe

provisioningandwateringofthebrig,andhehopedtosaildirectlyfromthisporttotheWestCoast.Toomuchtimehadalreadybeenlost,andeachday'sdelaymighthaveseriousconsequencesintheobtainingofacargoofotterpelts.

Hardlyhadtheechoesoftheshotdiedawayamongthehillsthanalargedoublecanoe,carryingawhiteflagatthetopofashortmast,wasseentoputofffromthebeachandmaketowardstheshipwithallpossiblehaste.Asitapproachednearerthreemencouldbediscerned,paddlingwithallthevigourtheycouldcommand.

[Illustration:ALARGEDOUBLECANOE]

"Theyseemanxioustomeetus,"laughedKenneth,ashewatchedthem.

"Theyprobablyare,"answeredthecaptain,whohadbeenstudyingthesmallcraftthroughhistelescope."For,ifI'mnotmistaken,they'rewhitemen.Yes,bythundertheyare,andthatfellowinthebowlookslikeRidler.Howintheworlddidhegethere--anddressedlikeanative,too?"

"Ridler?"



"Yes,Ridler.Hewascarpenter'smateonthe_Columbia_,"andthen,asthecanoecamecloser,thecaptaincuppedhishandstogetherandcalled:"Ahoy,Chips!Whatareyoudoingthere?"

Themandroppedhispaddleandstaredforamomentattheofficersandmenliningthebrig'sdeck,andthen,catchingsightofthemasterofthe_Hope_:"Mr.Ingraham--oh--oh--Mr.Ingraham----"andhisvoicebroke.

"ThankGodyou'vecome."

Thestrangersweresoononboard.Thinandemaciated,andwearingonlytheloin-clothor_marro_oftheislanders,theylookedmorelikesavagesthancivilisedbeings.

"ThankGodyou'vecome,"repeatedRidleroverandoveragain,asheseizedCaptainIngrahambythehand."Youhavesavedus,andweareintimetowarnyou.Thenativeshavealreadytakenoneship,andwouldsurpriseandkillyoutooiftheycould."

"Whatship?"

"The_FairAmerican_,sir.Theymassacredtheofficersandnearlyallofthecrew."

"Tellusaboutit;butfirst,whoareyourfriends?"

"Thiswillexplain,sir,"saidoneofthemen,andhehandedthecaptainapaper,whichhereadaloud:

"ThesepresentsaretocertifythatJohnYoungandJamesCoxwentonshorefromtheschooner_Grace_,withleavefromWilliamDouglas,ownerandcommander,toremainatAtooitillhisreturnfromCanton.Butasnomancanforeseewhataccidentsmayhappeninthecourseofsuchavoyage,Ihavetorequestallcommandersthatmaycomethisway;iftheabove-mentionedJohnYoungandJamesCoxrequestapassagetoCanton,

thatitmaybegranted,andtheobligationshallbereturnedby

"CAPTAINDOUGLAS.

"ATOOI,21_August_,1790."

"We'renotboundforCanton,butfortheNorth-WestCoast,"explainedthecaptain,whenhehadfinishedreading.

"Wedon'tcarewhereyouaregoing,sir,ifyou'llonlytakeuswithyou,andawayfromthesedevils,"exclaimedCox."PeterRidlerwilltellyou----"

"Yes,Ridler,you'dbettertellusthewholestory;butfirstIthinkyou'dbetterhavesomethingtoeatanddrink,foryoulookhungry."

"Yes,sir,wearehungry."Andtheywereledofftothegalley.

"Nowletushearallaboutthisaffair,"saidthecaptain,whentheyhadbeenfed,andhadreturnedtothequarter-deck."Whataboutthis _FairAmerican_?Whatkindofavesselwasshe?"



"Shewasaschooner;actingtendertothebrig_Elenora_,ofNewYork.CaptainMetcalfwasincommandofthebrigandhisson,--abouttheageofthisyounggentleman"--andheindicatedLawrence--"aboutnineteen,wasinchargeoftheschooner.Hewasagoodofficer,too.

"IthappenedatOwhyee.Ihadbeenlefttheretodeveloptrade,sir,youwillremember,whenthe_Columbia_wasgoinghome.Thenativessurprisedtheyoungcaptain.Hehadallowedalotofthemonboard.Theystabbedhim,andkilledthreeseamenatthesametime.Fourotherstheyclubbedandthrewoverboard.Theremainingmemberofthecrewtheybeatandtookprisoner.

"WhentheybroughthimashoreIwenttothe_eries_,orchiefs,andbeggedforhislife,andafterawhiletheylethimgo.

"Atthetimethe_Elenora_wasonlyafewmilesaway--attheplacewhereCaptainCookwaskilled--andthenativesplannedtocapturehertoo,andthemanIsavedwastakenoverthere.

"Thebos'nofthe_Elenora_cameashore,andtheycapturedhim.CaptainMetcalfsentashoreforhim,buttheysaidthebaywastaboo,andthathewouldbesentofflateatnightorthenextday.Thatnighthundredsofcanoescamefromallpartsoftheisland,andfromtheotherislandstoo,forthethinghadbeenplanned.Thereweremore

thantwothousandfivehundredcanoesaltogether,drawnuponthebeachandhiddenonshore--allreadyfortheattack.

"Thebos'n,sir,wasacoolone.HetoldthekingthatthebrigmountedmoregunsthanCaptainCook'sships--andtheystillrememberthebombardmenttheygotwhentheymurderedhim.Thebos'nsaidthateveniftheydidcapturetheshipitwouldonlybeafterhundredsofthemhadbeenkilled.Hesaiditwouldbebetterforthemtohavethe _Elenora_goaway,andpromisedtowritetothecaptaintellinghimtosail.Hepromisedtosaynothingaboutthe_FairAmerican_.

"Atlasttheyagreedtolethimwrite,andhekepthiswordtoo.Heknewthatifhesaidanythingaboutthecaptain'ssonandtherest

beingkilledthecaptainwouldfight,andprobablytheshipwouldbecapturedandeveryoneonboardwouldbekilled,aswellasthewhitemenontheisland,forthereweretwoorthreeothersaswell,whohadbeenleft,likeme,tolookafterthesandal-woodtrade.

"Anyway,the_Elenora_sailedaway,butCaptainMetcalfgotevenwiththenatives.ItwaswhilehewasatMowee.HewentthereafterleavingOwhyee.Thesavagescameoffinthenight,andcutawayoneoftheboatsandkilledthemanwhowasonwatchinher.Thenextmorningtheycameoffbythehundredtotrade,asifnothinghadhappened.Thecaptainloadedhisgunswithgrape-shotandgavethemabroadside,andkilledmorethantwohundredofthem.That'swhathedid--andIdon'tknowifheknewthenthathissonhadbeenmurdered."

"Andwhereisthe_FairAmerican_--whatdidtheydowithher?"questionedCaptainIngraham.

"They'vegotheryet,sir,andsailheraround.Whentheygotherandallherstoresandgunsandeverything,Tianawantedtokillallofuswhitemenwhowereontheisland.Heknewwe'dtellwhathappened.Thekingwouldn'tlethim,butafterthatwehadaveryhardtime.

"CaptainDouglascamenextinthe_Grace_.Iwasn'tthereatthetime,



butoneofthemen--aboyhewas--gotofftoher.Hedidn'ttellthecaptainaboutthe_FairAmerican_,Iguess,forhesailedawaywithouttryingtogettheothermenoff.Maybehethoughtthatitwouldn'tbeanyuse,orthattheywantedtostay:Ican'tsay.ButwhenhewenttoMowee,themanwhowassavedfromthe_FairAmerican_managedtogetofftohim,andtoldhimaboutKing,thebos'n,andtheothersontheisland,andwarnedhimaboutTiana.

"CaptainDouglaswentashore,andtriedtobuythemen--Iwasoneof'em--andofferedfortymuskets.Thenativesliedtohim,andsaidthewhitemenhadallgoneaway.Theywantedtokeepustoworkthe_FairAmerican_ifanythingwentwrong.

"The_Grace_wasonlyasmallboat,andshelostmostofhercannonoverboardinastorm.CaptainDouglasdroppedanoteonthebeach,andTianabroughtittome.Itoldhimthatitwasaboutsomethingelse.HeknewIwasn'treadingitright,andwantedtokillme,butthekingwouldn'tlethim.Thekingsaiditdidn'tmatterwhatthenotesaid,forhewasgoingtokilleverybodyonthe_Grace_nextday;butthatnightshesailed.TheythoughtIhadwarnedthecaptaininsomeway,andagainTianawantedtokillme.

"CaptainDouglaswenttoAtooi,andthereheleftCoxandYoung.Thechieftherewasveryfriendly,andhewasatwarwithTiana,sothe

captainthoughtitwouldbesafeenoughforthem.

"Iheardthatthereweretwomenhere,soImanagedtomakemywayhere,andwe'vebeenhelpingKingTiomakewaronTianaandhiscrowd.Theyarejustaboutasbadastheotherlot.They'lltrytokillyoualliftheycan."

"They'llgetawarmreceptioniftheytryanything,"wasthegrimresponseofCaptainIngraham.

"Yousee,"wentonRidler,"oldKingTiowantstogetashiptoo,sohecanbelikeTiana,andbesideshewantstogetcannonsandfirearmsandpowdertocarryonhiswar.Tianaisbuildingabattery,andTiowants

tohavethesame."

"They'regatheringaboutusnow,"exclaimedLawrence,whohadglancedtowardstheshore.

"Quick!"shoutedthecaptain."Outwiththeboarding-nets;callthecrewtomantheguns."

Theyboysranofftocarryouttheorders,andinafewmomentsthenetswereoutandeverymanwasathisstation.

Thenativesweresurprisedattheactivityandtheevidentpurposeofthecrew.Itwasnottheirintentiontoboldlyattackwithout

ascertainingthestrengthoftheship.

Thesecondmate,whowasproficientinthelanguageoftheislands,nowaddressedthesavages,tellingthemthattheonlythingforwhichthe _Hope_wouldtradewaswater,andafteragreatdealofbargainingaboutthreehundredgallonswasobtainedincalabashes.

Whilethiscommercewasinprogress,Coxwentashoreinacanoebelongingtooneoftheprincipalchiefs.CaptainIngrahamwasannoyedthatheshouldhavedonesowithoutpermission.Hewasapprehensive



thatthemanwouldbedetained,butthisRidlerandYoungdidnotthinklikely,sayingthatthechiefwouldbringhimback.Hehadgone,theysaid,tosecuretwomusketsthatbelongedtothem,andwhichtheydidnotwanttofallintothehandsofthesavages.

Coxreturnedinhalfanhourwiththeguns.Hehandedoneup,andthenboardedthevesselandcalledfortheothermuskettobepassedtohim.Insteadofdoingasbidden,thechiefpushedthecanoeawayfromthesideofthevessel.ThegunwaspassedtoKingTio'scanoe.

Thecaptaindemandedthatitbesurrendered,butinsteadofcomplyingTiolaughed,andoneofhiswarriorspickeduptheweaponandpointeditatthewhiteman.

AshedidsoCaptainIngrahamtouchedoffaloadedswivel,whichwaspointedoverthenatives'heads.Confusionfollowed,andthecanoespaddledtowardstheshore,butbeforereachingthebeachtheystopped,andawildjabberingfollowed.

Presentlythecanoes,ofwhichtherewereseveralhundred,formedintoline,andthesavages,screamingandyelling,madefortheship.

"Theymeanbusiness,sir,"shoutedRidler."They'regoingtoattack;givemeamusket."Andheandhiscompanionsseizedfire-armsand

ammunitionfromthelockers.

"Steady,men--givethemsmallarmsfirst,"orderedthecaptain,andavolleywaspouredintotheswiftlyadvancinglineofcanoes,andseveralofthenativeswereseentofall.Withrenewedshoutsofdefianceandbarbaricbattle-cries,theycameon.

Thethreenew-comers,Tinpots,andNicholas,bydirectionofLawrence,reloadedthemusketsastheotherssprangtotheirstationsattheguns.

Nowthesavageswerewithinafewyardsofthevessel,andspearsandstoneswerefallingonthedeck.Socloseweretheythattheopenformationofthelinewaslostandthecanoescrowdedtogetherasthe

warriorsstoodupintheircraftstohurltheirweapons.

"Allright,men--theswivels--fire!"Andtheguns,crammedwithsmall-shot,ironscraps,andleadballs,poureddeathanddestructionintothemasseddugouts.Shrieksofpainandwildscreamsofterrorfilledtheair.Canoesweresplinteredtobits,whileothersoverturned,throwingthedeadandwoundedoccupantsintootherboatsorthewater.

Neverbeforehadtheinhabitantsoftheislandcomeintocontactwiththedevastatingeffectsofcannon,orfelttheforceoffire-arms.

Therewasascrambleamongthesurvivingcanoestoescape,andthey

separatedanddashedwildlyfortheshore,oneortwoalonestoppingtoassistthewoundedinthewater.

"Shallwegivethemthefour-pounders?"askedMr.Crafts.

"No,"wasthehumaneanswer."Itwouldbeslaughter.Wehavedoneenoughforourownprotection.Wedon'twanttokillmorethanwemusttosaveourselves.They'vehadtheirlesson."

"Herecomesabreeze,"Kennethannounced.



"Good;we'lltakeadvantageofitandleavethisplace."

"Thereisoneofthechiefsonboardwithhisservant.Hewashereallthetime,andtooknopartinthefight,"Lawrencesaid;"whatshallwedowithhim?"

"I'mafraidwe'llhavetotakehimwithus.Seethathe'streatedkindly,"thecaptainanswered."We'llruntoWoahooandtrytogetsomemorewater,andwe'llleavehimthere."

Itwasnearlynoonthefollowingdaywhenthe_Hope_hovetooffWoahooatadistanceofseveralmilesfromthebeach.

"Ithinkyouhadbetterkeepthatchiefandhismanoutofsight,orthey'llwarntheothers,andyouwon'tgetanything,"advisedRidler."Anywaythey'llbesendingacanoefromRapo'rapoheresometimeto-day,soyou'dbettermakehaste,sir."

"Yes;that'sgoodadvice,"agreedCaptainIngraham;andaccordinglythetwonativeswereconfinedinthehold.

Itwasnotlongbeforethevesselwassurroundedbyhundredsofcanoes,bringingfruit,vegetables,fish,andhogstotrade.Itwasexplained

that,whilethesearticleswouldbeaccepted,waterwasmostdesired;andsoonthiswascomingoffingourds.

Aboutfourhundredgallonshadbeensecuredwhenastrangecanoewasseenroundingthepointintothebay.

"That'sfromRapo'rapo,"observedCox,afterstudyingitforamomentthroughthetelescopethatKennethhandedhim.

"Thenourtradingisover."

"I'mafraidso."

Hewasright,forsoon,inanswertoasignal,thenativesalldesertedthevesselandwereseengatheringaboutthecanoeofthenew-comer,closetotheshore.Asthelastofthesavageswereleavingthebrigantinethecaptivechiefandhismanwerebroughttothedeck.Theyweregivenhandsomepresents,andwereallowedtoembarkfortheshore.

"Allright,Mr.Burbank,"calledthecaptain,"makesail."

"Whereto,sir?"

"FortheNorth-WestCoast."

CHAPTERV

MANTHEPUMPS

AfterleavingtheSandwichIslandsthechiefofficerrapidlyimprovedinhealth,due,hedeclared,tothecareandattentionbestoweduponhimbyLawrenceandTinpots.TowardstheendofJunehewasoncemore



abletobeondeckandassumeapartofhisduties.Hisfacewasterriblydisfiguredbyhiswounds,buthisspiritswerebuoyant,andhewasasanxiousasanytoreachthecoastandenterintotheactivitiesofbarteringforfurs.

ThedelightofallattherecoveryofMr.Cruftwasinameasuremarredbytheillnessofthesecondmate,Mr.Crafts.Thisbravefellowhadcontractedacoldwhilethe_Hope_layofftheFalklandIslands,andithadsettledonhislungs.Ithadbeenexpectedthatthewarmerclimateofthetropicswouldfreehimfromit,butsuchhadnotbeenthecase,andnow,asthebrigwasploughingherwaynorthward,hisconditiongaverisetoseriousanxiety.Hewasweakened,andoftenhadtoretiretohiscabintorest,whilethefrequentrainsandnightmistschilledhimtothebone.SoitwasthatKennethwascontinuedinthecapacityofsecondofficerwhileLawrencehadmorefrequentlytoassisthim,byreasonoftheinabilityofthefirstmatetoacceptthefullresponsibilitiesofhisoffice.

ThatCaptainIngrahamwasdelightedwiththemannerinwhichtheboyshadacquittedthemselveswasshownbyaletterhewroteaddressedtoTobiasDrake:

SIR,--AswearenowapproachingtheAmericanCoast,Iamwritingtoyou

intheexpectationthattheopportunitywillbeaffordedofforwardingthelettertoChina,fromwhencenodifficultyofferstoitsbeingcarriedtoBoston.[1]

"Iam,sir,butexpressingmyselftruthfullywhenIsaythatitwasafortunatecircumstancethatplacedyournephewundermycommand.Hehasprovedhimselftobeofthegreatestvaluetomeintheconductoftheenterprise,andhasshownhimselftobepossessedofdiligence,courage,andresourcenottobeexpectedinoneofhisyears.

Intimeofdangerhehasnotbeenlacking,andrecentlyacquittedhimselfinamannerdeservingofhighcommendation.Agunbrokelooseinastormandwasrunningwildaboutthedeck.Yournephewcontrived

tocaptureitandpreventfurtherdamagebeingdone.

OflatehehasbeennursingMr.Cruft,myfirstofficer,whowasbadlywoundedbytheprematureexplosionofacannon,andMr.Cruftgiveshimgreatcreditfortheskillandcarehehasdisplayedinthisoffice.

Imayadd,sir,thatIamveryfortunateinhavingasjuniorsonthequarter-decktwosuchfineyoungfellowsasLawrenceDrakeandKennethBurbank.

IbelievethatJonasBurbank,arespectablefarmerofsomemeans,nearDerry,NewHampshire,isknowntoyou.IwouldappreciateitasafavourifyouwouldconveytohimthehighopinionIholdofhisson.

Yourhumbleandobedientservant,JOSEPHINGRAHAM.

Aftersealingthisletter,andplacingitwithapacketofpreviously-writtencommunications,thecaptainwentondeck,wherehefoundtheboysinconversation.

"WeweretalkingaboutthatnotethatTianabroughtonboard,saying



thattherehadbeentroubleovertherightofBritishvesselstotradeatNootka,"explainedLawrence."Wewerewonderingwhatitwasallabout."

"Iwasthereatthetimethattheseizuresweremade,"answeredthecaptain,"butIcan'tsaydefinitelybywhatrighttheSpaniardsclaimthatthewholecoastbelongstothem,unlessitwasaPapalbull,whichgavethemthewholecoast,alongtimeago.Ifthat'salltheyhavetosupportthemitisnotmuch.Ineverwasmuchinterestedinpolitics,andtheseinternationalaffairsaretoomanyforme.IonlyknowwhatIsawandheard.

"ItisbecauseofthataffairthatI'mnotheadingforNootkanow,butwillmakethecoasttothenorthofthatport.IexpecttofallinwiththeislandswhichCaptainDixonnamedQueenCharlotte,butwhichtheAmericansprefertocallWashingtonIslands."

"ButwhatofthetroubleatNootka,"Lawrenceremindedhim.

"Well,itwaslikethis.IthinkyouknowthatIwasmateonthe _Columbia_underCaptainKendrick,wholatertransferredcommandtoCaptainGrayandstayedonthecoastinthe_Washington_.WewinteredatNootka,and,infact,madeitourheadquarters.

"WhenwearrivedtherewefoundthatCaptainJohnMeareswastherewithtwovessels--one,the_Felice_,whichhecommanded,andtheother,the _Iphigenia_,CaptainWilliamDouglas,thesamemanwholeftCoxandYoungattheIslandofAtooi--whohadanotherofficerwithhim,aPortuguese,namedViana,whoclaimedtobethecaptaininorderthatthevesselcouldsecuretheprivilegesenjoyedbythatnationatMacao,inChina.

"Meareshadbuiltaroughsortofahouseonshore,andhadlandedoneortwosmallcannon,toprotecthismenwhiletheywerebuildingasloopwhichhadbeenbroughtoutinsectionsintheholdofoneofthevessels.

"ThisfellowMeareswasverycraftyanddeceitful.Hewasverypolitetous,buttriedhardtopersuadeusthatitwouldbefollyforustoremainonthecoast,astherewerenofurstobehad,andthenativeswouldkillus.

"Notlongafterourarrivalthesloopwascompleted,whichwaschristenedthe_North-WestAmerica_.Shewaslaunchedwithgreatceremony,allthevesselsfiringsalutesinhonourofthefirstboattobebuiltonthecoast.Shewasoutfittedandsailedonatradingtrip.Shortlyafterthis,MearespreparedtoleaveforChinainthe_Felice_.HecameonboardtheColumbiaandaskedifwehadanyletterstobeforwardedfromChina,sayingthathewouldbepleasedtotakechargeofthem.Ofcoursewewereonlytoodelightedattheidea,andgavehim

allourcorrespondence,andourboatsandthoseofthe_Washington_ helpedtotowthe_Felice_outoftheharbour.

"Nosoonerwasthe_Felice_safelyatseathanCaptainDouglasreturnedtousallourletters,givingasanexcusethatMeareshadchangedhisplansandwouldgotoIndiainsteadofChina."

"Butwhydidhedothat?"askedKenneth.

"Becauseheknewthatifhedidnotoffertotakeourletterswewould



bribesomeofhiscrewtodoit.Hedidnotwanttohaveuswritehome,andpossiblyencourageotherexpeditionstotakepartinthetrade.

"ItwasinMay1789thatDonEstevanMartinezcame.WewerenotatFriendlyCoveatthetime,butthe_Iphigenia_wasridingthere.Meares'shousewasdeserted,and,infact,itwaspartiallytorndown.WehadusedsomeoftheplanksandsohadDouglas.

"Martinez,whoevidentlydidnothavemuchusefortheBritish,demandedbywhatrightDouglaswasinaSpanishport.DouglasrepliedthatVianawastherealcaptain,andproducedPortuguesepapers.HeaddedthathehadputintoNootkaindistress,andwaswaitingforthereturnofMeareswithsupplies.

"AweeklateranotherSpanishship--the_SanCarlos_--arrived.Then,havingreinforcements,MartinezarrestedDouglasandhiscrew,claimingthattherewassomethingwrongwithhispapers.

"InthemeantimewewerehigheruptheSound,andlearningofallthis,wefearedthatwetoowouldbearrested,butwereassuredwewouldnotbe.Douglasandhismenwereheldforafewdaysandthenreleased,andMartinezsuppliedthemwithcordageandprovisionsandpermittedthe_Iphigenia_tosail.

"Wethoughtthatthetroublehadallblownover,butinsteaditwasonlystarting.

"TheSpaniardspreparedfortroubletoo,fortheysettoworkandbuiltabatteryontopofHogIsland,andstartedtoestablishasettlement.

"Mearesclaimedthatheownedtheland,havingboughtitfromMacquinna,butthisthechieflaterdenied.Butapartfromthat,the _North-WestAmerica_camebackearlyinJune,andtheDonsimmediatelyarrestedthecaptainandcrew.

"Afewdayslaterthe_PrincessRoyal_--CaptainThomasHudson--arrived,

butshewasnotinterferedwithatthattime.

"Itwasshortlyafter1JulythatCaptainColnettcameinthe _Argonaut_.Afewofuswentouttomeethim,andhesaidhewassentbyMearestobuildatrading-postatNootka.

"WhenMartinezheardofthishehadtheBritisherarrestedandseizedthe_Argonaut_.The_PrincessRoyal_camebackaboutthesametime,andshealsowascaptured.

"TheprisonerswerenearlyallsenttoSanBlas,inMexico,andIneverheardanythingmoreofthemuntilwegotthatnotefromTiana.Afewofthemen,though,weconveyedtoChina."

"Butwhyshouldtheyletthe_PrincessRoyal_and_North-WestAmerica_ goandthenseizethemlater?"askedKenneth.

"Idon'tknow.ThewholeaffairwassocomplicatedthatInevercouldmakemuchofit.Wewereafraidthatwe'dbeseizedandsowedidn'tpryintothebusinessforfearweshouldinvitetrouble."

"TheyinsultedtheBritishflag,"exclaimedLawrence,"andIdon'tthinkthey'llgetawaywiththat.Theyshouldknowbythistimethat



GreatBritaindon'tstandforthatsortofthing."

"Quitetrue,"agreedthecaptain;"and,ifIdon'tmissmyguess,SpainwillnotbesohaughtyoverherrightsinthePacificwhenLondonhearsaboutthetrouble.OfcourseitwouldsuitusifnoBritishshipswereallowedtotradeinthesewaters,andwecontinuedtodoso;therewouldbemorepeltsforus.Allthesame,ifanynationistoquit,Idon'tthinkitwillbeGreatBritain."

Whenthecaptainretiredtohiscabintheboyscontinuedtotalkforsometimeoverthepossibilityofwarfareonthecoast.Itaddedtotheexcitementofthevoyage,whiletheideaofwitnessingastrugglebetweentheancientrivalsoftheseaforthesovereigntyofthefurfieldssorecentlydiscoveredappealedtotheiradventurousspirits.

ItwasthefollowingeveningthatCaptainIngrahamobserved,"Weshouldfallinwithlandto-morrow."

"Isupposewecan'tbefaroffitnow,"agreedKenneth.

"Onlyafewmiles,forthecolourofthewaterhaschanged,"answeredthecaptain."IexpectwewillbeabletoseethehillsofQueenCharlotteIslands--orWashingtonIslands,asIprefertocallthem.Thenourworkwillstartinearnest."

ThecaptainstoodchattingwithKennethforafewmomentslonger,whileLawrencewentforward.HealmostbumpedintoCox,oneofthenewmen,whowashurryingaft.

"Sorry,sir,"pantedtheman;"Iwascomingtosayashowtheship'ssprungaleak."

"What?"

"She'stakingwaterfast.There'snearlythreefeetintheholdnow."

"Havethebos'npipeallhandsondeck,"shoutedthelad,asheturned

andracedaft.

"Ship'ssprungaleak,"hecalledasheapproachedthemaster."Nearlythreefeetintheholdnow."

"Pipethecrewondeck."

"I'vedoneit,sir."

"Good.CallMr.Cruft";and,asLawrencewenttodohisbidding,"Mr.Burbank,it'syourwatch,havethepumpsmanned."

Bythistimethemenweretumblinguptheforecastlecompanion-wayto

thedeck,anditwasonlytheworkofamomentforthemtostartthepumps.

"Mr.Cruft,"saidthecaptain,"willyouhavetheholdsounded."

AccompaniedbyLawrenceandthecarpenterthefirstofficerwentbelow,where,bytheaidoflanterns,itwasascertainedthatthereportwastrue,andtherewasadepthofnearlythreefeetinthehold.

Allnightlongthepumpswerekeptgoing,themenworkinginrelays.



Lawrencetookhisshareofthetoilatthehandles,whilehischum,withthecarpenter,maintainedawatchonthewater,soundingeveryhalfanhourtonotetheprogressbeingmadebythepumps.

"I'mafraid,sir,we'redonefor,"complainedthecarpenter.

"Nonsense,"snappedKenneth."We'reholdingourown,andbetter.Ithinkwe'remakingheadway.We'renotfaroffshore,andwillbeabletofindacoveandbeachherto-morrow."

Hewasright,foranhourlateritwasfoundthatthewaterhadbeenloweredbyaninch.Steadilyandmonotonouslythecreakingandsighingandsloshingofthepumpswascontinuedhourafterhour,asthemenbenttotheback-breakingwork.Alofteverystitchofcanvaswasbeingcarriedbeforethelightbreeze,andthecourse,whichhadbeenoriginallysettofallinwiththenorthernextremityofthegroup,waschangedtomakelandassoonaspossible.

WhendawnfirststreakedtheskyKennethwentalofttokeepalookout.Atfirstnothingcouldbeseenthroughthemistsofthemorning,butasthelightstrengthenedandvisibilityimprovedhediscernedafaintoutlineinthedistance,whichgrewmoreandmoredistinctashecontinuedtolook.Hedidnotwanttoraisefalsehopes,butassoonashewassatisfiedthathewasnotmistakenhecalled:"Land,ahoy!"

[Illustration:KENNETHWENTALOFTTOKEEPALOOK-OUT]

Therewasafaintcheerfromthewearymenatthepumpsasthewordwaspassedalong,andwithrenewedvigourtheyresumedtheirtask.

Soonamountainousshorecouldbeclearlyseenfromthedeck.Thewaterintheholdhadbeenreducedtolessthantwofeet--butsteadilyandmonotonouslythepumpscontinued.

Threehourslatertheywerecloseenoughtomakeoutseveralopeningssuggestingharbours,andthe_Hope_washeadedtowardsthenearestone.Thelongboatwasswungoutonthedavits,andasmallswivelwasfitted

tothegun-socketatthebow.Mr.Cruftpreparedtotakechargeoftheboatandexplorethecharacteroftheopeningandthefacilitiesitofferedforbeachingthevessel.

Whenwithinhalfamileoftherugged,timber-cladshorethatrose,ridgeuponridge,tohighmountainpeakscappedwithsnow,thebrigantinewashauledbythewind,andassheswungtotheboatwasdropped.Thevesselstoodoffandoninshorttacksbeforetheentrance,waitingforthereturnofthelongboat,andondeckthepumpssighedandgroanedandsloshedandsplashedwithunremittingregularity.

Itwastwohoursbeforethelongboatwasseenagain.Assheemergedfrombehindapointaflagwashoistedandamusketwasdischarged.

Thiswasthesignalthatasafeporthadbeendiscovered,andthe _Hope_headedin.Theboatwaspickedup,andMr.Cruftpilotedthebrigintoasnugcovewithaslopingbeach,wellshelteredinacommodiousharbour.

"I'mgoingtocallthisCruft'sCove,"wasthedelightedexclamationofCaptainIngraham,asheviewedthelittlebay,sowellsuitedforgravingthevessel.

Thetidewasalmostfullwhentheyarrived,andpreparationswereat



oncemadeforbeachingthe_Hope_.Thiswasaccomplishedwithoutdifficulty,andasthewatersrecededshewasproppeduponeithersidewithlongpolescutfromtheconvenientwoodsorgatheredfromthedriftwood.

Itwaslateinthedaywhenthestern-postwasfinallyoutofwater,andheretheleakwasfound.Itwasbetweenthelowerpartofthepostandthekeel,whereproperdovetailinghadnotbeendone,andthepartshadseparated,leavingaspaceoffullyhalfaninch.Thebottomoftheshipwasfoundtobecoveredwithbarnacles,seaweed,andothermarinegrowth.

"Mightyfortunatewedidn'thitagale,"remarkedPeterRidler,whowasinasmallboatwithKennethwhentheleakwaslocated."Thatthereseamwouldhaveopenedsureifwe'dhadabigblow,andwe'dallbedownbelownow."

Theblacksmith'sforgewassetup,andthesmithwassettoworkbylanternlightmanufacturingastrongironclampwithwhichtojointhepartedtimbers,andearlythenextmorningastartwasmadeonrepairingthebreak.Whilesomemembersofthecrewwereassistinginthisworktheothers,withtheexceptionofthosewhowereactingasguards,wereengagedinscrapingtheweedsoff,preparatorytocopperpaintingthebottomonthefollowinglowtide.

"Doyouknowwhatdaythisis?"Lawrenceaskedhischumonthethirdmorningaftertheylanded.

"No;yourbirthday?"

"No,notmine:andyou'reafineRepublican,tohavetoberemindedbyaKingGeorgemanthatit'syourIndependenceDay."

"Whoopee!"wasthewildexclamation,asKennethdroppedastickhewascarryingandrandownthebeachtowardstheship.Severalmenseizedtheirmuskets,thinkingthatitwasanIndianattack,andthecaptainhurriedtoacquainthimselfwiththecauseoftheexcitement.

"What'swrong?"hecried.

"It'stheFourth--theFourthofJuly,"wastheexcitedanswer,"andI'mgoingtohoisttheflag."

"Byallmeans;and,byJove,we'llcelebrateit,too,"declaredthemaster.

PresentlyNicholasthecook,andTinpots,withanotherseaman,werebusilyandcomplaininglyengagedinlightingabigfireonthebeach.

"Whatareyoudoing?"askedLawrence.

"'Nuff,sah,"growledthecook."Decap'nhesaysdisis'pendenceday--whatevahdatis--anhedonewantabigfathawgcookedonsho'."

"Don'tblame'im,"interjectedTinpots."'E'sBritishtoo,'eis--though'edon'tlookmuchlikeone."

"Jamaica,Iis,"affirmedNicholasproudly.

"An',"wentonTinpots,withoutnotingtheinterruption,"wedon't



'ankertobecelebratin'hanysuchday."

"Y'should,"belligerentlyassertedtheotherseaman.

"Say,BillThompson,"demandedTinpots,"wherewereyourfatherborn?"

"England."

"Thoughthasmuch,an'youwasaBritishertillfifteenyearsago."

Theargumentpromisedtodevelop,untilLawrenceinterfered."Lookhere,Tinpots,"hesaid."GreatBritainwasbeaten--atleasttheHessiansoldiersKingGeorgesenttoAmericawerebeaten.Youcan'tgetoverthat--butrememberthis:GreatBritainwasbeatenbypeoplewhouptothattimewereBritish.YoushouldbeproudtothinkthattheonlytimeincenturiesthatBritainwasbeatenitwasbyBritishers--nooneelsecoulddoit."

Theoldsailorscratchedhisheadforaminute,thenabroadsmileoverspreadhisface."Righto--we'rethehonlyonesascanbeathourselves.Comeon,Nicky--let'sgetthe'og."

Itwasamerrycompanythatgatheredlateronthebeach,toeattheenormousSandwichIslandhogthathadbeenroasted,andtodrinkthe

healthofthePresidentandCongressinanextraservingofgrog.

"Men,"saidthecaptain,inproposingthetoasttoGeneralWashington,"IguessthisisthefirsttimethatIndependenceDayhasbeencelebratedonthissideofthecontinent.Iwantyoutorememberthis--thatyou'vegottokeepthegoodnameofournationforhonesty,evenifwearetradingwithIndians.We'vehadourtroubleswithourmothercountry,butshouldrememberthatthetradeoftheBritishnationwasbuiltuponfairdealing.IftheUnitedStatesisgoingtoprosperwewillhavetostaybythoseprinciples.

"Nowthatwe'reintheIndiancountry,youmustbeonwatchallthetime.Don'ttrustthemtoomuch:bekindbutfirmwiththem--andkeep

yourpowderdry."

[1]VesselsfromBostonandotherportsoftheAtlanticseaboardofUnitedStatescarriedonaconsiderabletradewithChinafortea.TheChinesemarket,atthesametime,paidthehighestpricesforsea-otterpelts,anditwastotheOrientthattheWestCoastcaptainstooktheirfurcargoes.

CHAPTERVI

AWILDWELCOME

Havingcompletedtherepairstothevessel,andfilledthewater-casksandtakenaboardaplentifulsupplyoffirewood,CaptainIngrahamdirectedthesailingofthe_Hope_insearchofIndianswithwhomtobarterandtradeforskins.

Forseveraldaysthevesselcruisedalongtheruggedshore-linewithout



meetingwithanynatives.Thenalargeopeningpresentedthepromiseofaharbour,andthe_Hope_wasdirectedtowardsit.Itwasnotlongbeforeacanoewasseen.Thelittlecraftmadetowardsthebrigantine,andwassooncloseenoughforthedozennativeswhomannedittobedistinguished.Therewasonemanandelevenwomen.

Thenativescommencedasongofwelcomeasthe_Hope_cameto,andpaddledaroundandaroundtheshipintheircraft,whichwashollowedfromasinglelogofcedar,withhigh,pointedprowandraisedsternpost.Havingcompletedfourcircuitsoftheship,theIndianscamealongside.Themanwasapowerful-lookingfellowofmediumheight,withatremendouswidthofshoulders.Hisface,bedaubedwithredochre,boreafierceaspect.Thewomen,althoughunpainted,werehideoustolookuponbyreasonofthemannerinwhichtheirlowerlipsweredistendedbytheinsertionoflabrets.Thefleshhadbeencutthrough,andawoodendisk,ofovalshape,hadbeeninsertedintheopening,causingtheliptoprotrudefullyaninchbeyondthechin.

Thefirstcanoewasjoinedbyanothercontainingsevenmen,amongwhomwasachiefofsomeimportance,whowasgarbedinacloakofsea-otterskins.Bysignshemadeitknownthathisvillagewasbutashortwaywithinthesound,andthatifthe_Hope_wouldproceedtherehewouldproducemanyskinssimilartothosethatformedhiscostume.

Theofferwasimmediatelyaccepted,andthebrigwassoonatanchoroffavillageoflowwoodenhutsofsuchsizeastosuggestthateachonewasoccupiedbyanumberoffamilies.Anotherchiefnowappeared,andboardedtheship,announcingthathisnamewasKow.HespoketheNootkanlanguagewithconsiderablefacility,andasCaptainIngrahamwasfairlyconversantwiththistongue,itwaspossibletoconductaconversation.Thechiefwastakentothecabin,wherehewasregaledwithbiscuitandmolasses,ofwhichheappearedtobeexceptionallyfond.Hewaspresentedwithacoatofbrightbluecloth,plentifullysuppliedwithbrassbuttons.

Heexplainedthatseveralothertrading-shipshadbeenvisitorstothelocality,andasaresultoftheirvisitstherewerebutfewskins

availablefortrade,butifthe_Hope_wouldremainfortendaysaplentifulsupplyoffurswouldbesecured.Tothisproposalthecaptainturnedadeafear.Thechiefthensuggestedastayoffivedays,andwhenthisinturnwasdenied,hereducedittothree,andthentoone.TothislastsuggestionCaptainIngrahamagreed.

Theboarding-netswereinposition,andthecrewwasarmedallthetimetheIndianswereonboard,forthedispositionofthenativeswasuncertain.Severalshipshadbeenattackedandtheircrewshadsufferedheavilyasaresultoftrustingthesavagesofthecoasttoofar,andthis,CaptainIngrahamdetermined,shouldnotbethecasewiththe_Hope_.

Whilethecaptainwasentertainingthechiefinthecabin,theboysgazedinwondermentatthestrangevillagersandtheirpeculiarhabitations.Theirattentionwasparticularlyattractedbythehigh,curiously-carvedpolesthatstoodinfrontofseveraloftheroughboardhouses.Thegravenfiguresrepresentedanimals,birds,andhumanbeings,andwereforthemostparthighlycoloured.

Oneofthesepoles,largerthantheothers,havingawidthatthebaseofnearlyfourfeet,stoodagainstthefrontofwhatwasevidentlytheprincipalhouseofthecommunity,inwhichnodoorcouldbeseen.



"Look,"exclaimedKennethsuddenly,pointingatthisparticularpole."Didyouseethat?"

"What?"

"Thebeakofthatbirdopenedandamancameoutofit."

"Goalongwithyou,"laughedLawrence."DoyouthinkI'mgreen?"

"No;look!"Andagainthebeakopened,revealingagreathole,andamanslidoutofthebird'smouthtotheground.

Lawrencerubbedhiseyesinamazement."DidyouseethesamethingthatIdid?"heasked.

"Icertainlydid.Itmustbethedoorofthehouse."

"Itis,sir,"interjectedPeterRidler."Iseen'embeforewhenIwasonthiscoast.They'vegotmanyfunnythingslikethat.Youshouldseesomeofthemaskstheyusesintheirdances.Theywork'emwithstringsandmakeanimalsopentheirmouthsandmovetheireyesandeverything:youjustwaittillyouseesomeofthembigwoodenmasks."

CaptainIngrahamandKowappearingondeck,thesailor'sexplanationofthecuriositiestobeseenwascutshort.Thechiefwasresplendentinhisnewcoat,withwhichheappearedtobehighlypleased.

"Wearegoingashore,"CaptainIngrahamremarked."AndIthinkyouyoungfellowswouldliketogotoo,"headded.

"Wewould,sir,"theyexclaimed,withsucheagernessthatthecaptaincouldnothelpsmiling."Allright,"heagreed,"butseetoitthatyourpistolsareloaded,andyouhadbettertakecutlassesalongaswell.Inevertrustthesesavages."

AsthelongboattouchedthegravelofthebeachtheIndianscrowded

around,yellingandshoutingandwavingtheirarms."Don'tshowanynervousness,"whisperedthecaptain."Rememberyouarewhitemen."

Promptedthus,theboysassumedanairofhaughtyindifference,andstaredbackatthegrimacingnatives,whosteppedback,formingalanethroughwhichKowandhisguestscouldproceeduptheslopingbeach.Thelongboatdrewofffromtheshoreassoonastheyquittedit.

Tothedelightoftheboys,thechiefledthemtothebighousewiththestrangedoor.Catchingholdofthelowerbeakofthewoodenbirdhedisclosedtheentrance,throughwhichthecaptain,withouttheslightesthesitation,disappeared.Kennethfollowed.Insertingoneleg,heduckedhisheaddownandmadeadiveforward.Hischumwasnot

asfortunate,forhecaughthisfoot,andthebeakcloseduponhim,holdinghimfast,totheimmensedelightofthesavagesandtheamusementofhiscompanions.Hewassoonliberated,andwasdrawnintotheinteriorofthehouse.

Itwasseveralmomentsbeforetheeyesofthevisitorsbecameaccustomedtothesemi-darknessoftheplace.Theirnoseswerenotassuccessful;andallthewhiletheyremainedwithintheplacetheywereassailedwithavarietyofpungentodours,ofwhichthatofdecayedfishseemedtobeintheascendant.Theatmospherewasalsoheavywith



thesmokeofafirethatburnedontheearthenfloorinthecentreoftheplace.

Themainportionofthegreatroomhadbeenexcavatedtoadepthofthreefeet,leavingaplatformoffiveorsixfeetaroundthesidesofthedwelling.

ChiefKowledthewaydownsomerudestepstothemainfloor,whereseveralwomenwhohadbeenseatedaboutthefireroseandspreadmats.Uponthesethewhitesseatedthemselves,whileKowproceededtodeliveralongspeechtothem,whichheconcludedbytakinghandfulsofwhitefeather-downfromaboxandscatteringitoverhimselfandhisguestsasatokenoffriendshipandgoodwill.

"Lookatthatwoman,"whisperedLawrence,whenthechiefhadcompletedhisceremonyofamity.Thesquawhadtakenalarge,closely-wovenbasketandhalffilleditwithwater.Intothissheproceededtodrophotstones,whichsherakedoutofthefirewithapairofwoodentongs.Thewaterwassoonboiling.Shenowpickedupsomepiecesoffishfromaboardortray,anddroppedthemoneatatimeintothewater,andthenaddedmorehotstones,afterabstractingthosethathadpreviouslybeenputintothebasket.

Whenthefishwasthoroughlycookeditwasservedinalarge,but

ratherdirty,woodenbowl,curiouslycarvedtorepresentananimal.Thiswasplacedinfrontofthechiefandhisguests.Thewhitemenweregivencarvedwoodenspoons,withwhichtohelpthemselvesfromthecommondish,butKowdidnotbothertouseanyimplementinfeedinghimself,preferringtousehisfingersinpickingchoicemorselsfromthemess.These,withimpressivedignity,hefirstofferedtoCaptainIngraham,whogravelyrefusedthem,whereuponKow,withevidentsatisfaction,appropriatedthemtohisownuse.

Theboysfoundthegreatestdifficultyinforcingthemselvestoeat;buttheyknewthattorefusetodosowouldbeconsideredasagrievousinsult.Lawrencewatchedwithstrangefascinationthehandofhishostdisappearingintothegrease-blackenedbowlinsearchofsome

particularlynicebitoffish,andthensoughttofindhisownfoodasfarawayaspossiblefromwherethechiefhadsecuredhistit-bit.

Thefishwasfollowedbyadishofwhichtheyfounditevenmoredifficulttopartake.Itwasamessofwildberries,coveredwithrancidfish-oilwhichhadbeenbeatenintoafoam.

"Andweobjectedtoboiledsaltmeat!"groanedKenneth,asheforcedhimselftoswallowsomeofthisdessert.

Theywereindeedpleasedwhenthemealwasended,andthecaptainhadpresentedKowwithastringofbeadsinrecognitionofhishospitality.

"I'mcertainlygladtobeoutofthatplace,"declaredLawrence,whenoncemoretheywereoutsideofthebuilding."Thisaircertainlytastesgood."

"Yes,"agreedhiscompanion;"butIwouldn'thavemissedseeingtheinsideofthathouseforawholelot.Didyouseehowitwasmade?Iwonderhowtheyevergotthosegreatbeamsuponthosecarvedcornerposts.Theymustbesixtyorseventyfeetlong."

"Atleastthat,"assentedLawrence."Andhoweverdidtheycutthose



greatcedarboardsfortheroofandsidesofthehouse?Someofthemwerethreefeetwide.Iimaginetheymustsplitbiglogswithwoodenwedges."

Andsotalkingtheyreturnedtothe_Hope_,wheretheincidentsoftheirtripashoreprovidedconversationfortherestoftheday.

Lateatnightthewindroseandthevesselpitchedandtossedandstrainedathermoorings.Thunderrolledamidthehigherpeaksandlightningflashed,illuminatingthedarkforestsandshorewithaviolet-blue,eerielight.BytheseintermittentflashesthoseonboardthebrigcouldseetheIndiansrunningwildlyfromhousetohouseingreatexcitementandevidentterror.

Graduallytheintensityofthestormincreased,andallhandswerecalledtostandby.Thetopgallantmasthadalreadybeenstruck,andtherewasnosailshowing;butinthenarrowconfinesofthecoveanythingmighthappen,andCaptainIngrahamwaspreparingforemergencies.

Hourafterhourpassedslowly.Insteadofdiminishing,thefuryofthestormseemedtoincrease.Abovetheroaringandpoundingofthewavesonthebeach,everynowandagaincouldbeheardthecrashingofagianttree,uprootedbythewindandsmashingsmallertimberasitfell.

"I'mafraidwe'rebeingforcedontothatreefonthestarboardquarter,"shoutedMr.Cruft,asaflashoflightningshoweduptheshore-lineforafractionofasecond.

"Pulluponthekedge,"calledthecaptain,cuppinghishandssohisvoicewouldcarryabovethehowlingofthestorm.

Mensprangtoobeytheorder;butasthestraintightenedonthekedge,theanchorcamehome,andtheshipveeredroundclosertothedangerousrocks.Closerandclosersheapproachedthereef.Destructionseemedtobeinevitable.Alreadythewhitefoamofthebreakerscouldbedimlyseenasthewavesbrokeagainsttheraggedrocks.

"We'vegottogetalineashore,"Kennethshoutedinhischum'sear."Willyoucome?"

"Yes,"bellowedLawrence.

Thesheetanchorwasletgoandheld,justasitappearedthattheshipwouldstrikewiththenextwave.Therewasnoassurance,however,thattheanchorwouldholdforlong,whilewiththefallingtidethevesselmightcrashontherocks.

"We'regoingtotakealineashore,"Kennethtoldthecaptain.

"Goodidea,ifyoucanmakeit.It'sworthtrying.Whoareyoutakingwithyou?"

"I'mgoinginthesmallboat,withLarryandTinpots."

CaptainIngrahamnodded,andthethreepreparedtolaunchtheboat.AstheylowereditNicholasthecookjoinedthem,andwaspermittedtogo.Itwasonlywithdifficultythattheboatwasdroppedwithoutbeingstoveinagainstthesideofthebrig.Kennethtookhisplaceinthesternandpaidoutalightline,whileLawrenceandthesailortugged



attheoars,andtheblackcrouchedinthebowwithaboathook.

Thedistancetotheoppositeshorewasbutlittlemorethanahundredyards,butthetaskofmakingitwasoneofdanger,asitwasnecessarytorowagainstthewaves,towardsthemouthofthecove,inordertoavoidbeingswamped.

Lawrencepulledwithallhisstrength,keepingstrokewithTinpots,butprogresswasmadebyinchesonly.Thesalt,wind-drivenspumelashedthemlikewhips,andthebreakingseassoonhadthelittleboathalffilledwithwater.Thenegrodroppedhisboathookandbailedwithallhismightinanefforttolightentheboatofthewaterthatthreatenedtosinkher.

Inchbyinchatfirst,andthenfootbyfootastheyobtainedthemeagreshelteroftheheadland,therow-boatprogressed.Now,withaquickturn,shewassetaboutandrandownagainintothebay,wallowing,andshippingseas,asshemadediagonallyacrossthewaves,butwithgreaterspeedandlessexertiontotherowers.

Kennethhadnoted,thepreviousafternoon,alittlebeachofsandwhereseveralIndiancanoesweredrawnup,andthishedeterminedtotrytomake.Thewaterwassmoothernow,andwithashouttohiscompanionsthatcarriedabovethetumultofthestorm,hemanagedtoconveyhis

intentionstothem.Theboat'snosewasturned,andwithrenewedeffortsLawrenceandTinpotsbenttheirbackstotheoars.Theboatshotahead,ridingthetopofawave,tocrashdownonthebeachasthewaterreceded.Theyjumpedoutandpulledtheboathigherupontheshelvingshore,abovethereachofthesucceedingcomber.

Nowtheyalljoinedinpullingattheline.Soontheincreasingweightmadeitapparentthataheavierropewasbeingpaidoutfromthebrigantine,anditsoonrequiredeveryounceoftheirunitedstrengthtobringitin.Atlasttheheavyhawserwasashore,anditwasmadefastaboutthetrunkofatreethatgrewnearthewater'sedge.Itremainedslackforafewmoments,andthengraduallytightened,andtheyknewthatthoseonboardthe_Hope_werewindingitinonthe

capstanandwerepullingthevesselofftosafety.

Shelteringthemselvesintheunderbrushasbesttheycouldthefourpreparedtoawaitthecomingofdaylight,fortheyknewthateveniftheirboathadescapedseriousdamagewhenshecrashedonthebeach,itwouldbeahazardousandfoolhardythingtoattempttoregainthebriginthedarknessandstorm.Drenchedtotheskinandchilledtothebone,andwithsinewsandmusclesaching,theyhuddledtogether.Minutesseemedtopasslikehours,andhoursdraggedonlikedaysbeforethefirstfaintstreaksintheskyheraldedtheapproachofdaylight.Asthelightincreasedthestormlessenedinitsfury.Theyweresoonabletomakeoutthebulkofthe_Hope_safelyridingtoheranchorsandmooringline,andthesightcheeredthem.

[Illustration:THEYHUDDLEDTOGETHER]

"Weshouldbeabletogetaboardinanhourorso,"saidKenneth,throughchatteringteeth."Thesea'sgoingdown,andIdon'tthinktheboatisbadlydamaged."

"Ahdon'wantt'goondatshipnomo',"whinedNicholas."I'seonlan,'an'ahwantst'stayhyar."



"Don'tbeafool,"snappedLawrence."TheIndianswouldeatyouup."

"Ahdon'ca'ah.I'sehadenuffo'bein'asailor."

"Let'imbe,sir,"advisedTinpots."Asailor'slifeain'tfercolouredmen,hitain't.Hit'sawhiteman'sjob;an'hitwouldn'tbenolosshif'ewereleftashore."

Thenegromumbledsomethingunintelligible,andnoonebotheredtofindoutwhatitwas.Theyrelapsedintosilence.

Agunwasfiredfromtheship,andinanswertoittheyshowedthemselvesonthebeachandreturnedthegreetingsthatwerewavedtothemfromthevessel.

"Ithinkwecantryitnow,"observedKenneth,halfanhourlater."Istheboatdamagedmuch,Larry?"

"No,"answeredLawrence,who,withTinpots,hadbeenexaminingthecraft."She'llrideallright."

"Verywell,let'srunherout.Here,where'sNicholas?"demandedKenneth.Theblackhadvanished.

Invainwastheimmediateneighbourhoodsearched.Notracecouldbefoundofthemissingcook.

"MaybetheHindians'as'im,"venturedTinpots."Theybewelcometo'imasfarasHi'mconcerned."

"No,"answeredKenneth."Hehasdeserted.Wecan'tspendanymoretimelookingforhim.Comeon--we'llgetaboard."

Thestormhadabatedsufficientlytooffernogreatobstacletothelaunchingoftheboat,andthetrioweresoononboardthe_Hope_,toreceivethethanksofthecaptainfortheiraction."AndasforNicholas,"headded,"I'llhavetoteachhimhisduty."

"But,sir,"protestedKenneth,"rememberhewaswithus,andisentitledtoasmuchcreditasweareforgettingthelineashore."

"Irealisethat;butIcan'thavehimoranyoneelsedesertingtotheIndians.Why,justthinkwhatitmeans,notonlytousbuttoeveryshiponthecoast,tohavethesavagesinformedoftheweaknessofthetradingships!"

Laterintheday,whenKowcameonboard,thecaptainarrangedwithhimtocapturethecookanddeliverhimonboardunharmed.Itwasnearlynightwhenthechiefreappeared.Hewasaccompaniedbyhalfadozenofhiswarriors.TheyhadNicholasboundhandandfootintheircanoe.

Afterrewardingthenatives,whoimmediatelyleftthevessel,CaptainIngrahamaddressedtheblack."Whathaveyoutosayforyourself?"hequestioned.

"I'seberrygladtobeback,sah,"wastheastonishingreply.

"Well,whydidyoudesert?"

"Ahwascol'an'scairt,sah--butdeIndiansdeydon'scairtmemo'--so



I'segladtobeback."

"Well,"saidthecaptain,whohadahardtimetokeepfromlaughingatthewoebegoneexpressionofthedarkey,"Idon'tknowwhattodowithyou.Youdidsplendidlylastnight,butIcan'tstandfordesertion."

"Oh,sah,I'sebad,indeedAhis,"answeredNicholas."Jus'callithalfadozen,sah,wifdecat,an'Ahwon'tdoitnomo'."

"Halfadozenlashes?Allright--that'sforrunningaway;butbecauseofwhatyoudidlastnight,I'llforgiveyouthreeofthem."

"Thankyou,sah."

"Potts,"wentonthecaptain,"wouldyougivehimthethreelashes?"andthecaptaindeliberatelywinkedattheseaman.

Thenegrowasledtotheforemast,andhavingbeenstrippedofhisshirt,hishandsweretiedaroundthemast,andTinpots,withagreatshowofforce,madethecat-o'-nine-tailsswishthroughtheair,todescendgentlyonthecook'sback.Nicholasflinchedasthewhipfell,butonlygruntedwhenitstruck.

"Yell,y'hidiot,"exclaimedTinpotsinahoarsewhisper.

Atthesecondstroketheblackletoutaroar,whichwasrepeatedwhenthethirdwasgiven.

"Iguessjusticehasbeendoneinthiscase,"saidthecaptain,addressingtheship'scompany,whichhadbeencalledondecktoseethepunishmentinflicted;"butIwanttosaythatifanyoneelsetriestodesertwhilewe'reonthisvoyagehewillgettentimesasmuchasNicholashasjusttaken--andagooddealharder."

CHAPTERVII

ADRIFTINTHEMIST

DespitethefinepromisesofKowthathewould,eachmorrow,produceanassortmentofprimeskinsforinspectionandbarter,tradewiththeIndiansofthevillagewasdull.Onlyafewpeltsofbutindifferentqualitywereoffered,andforthesethenativesdemandedpricesthatwereinexcessoftheschedulethathadbeenagreeduponaboardthe _Hope_.Asaresultofthepoordisplayandthehighvaluesattachedtosea-otterfursbytheIndians,onlyascoreofpeltsweresecuredinthefirstthreedaysofthewhitemen'sstayoppositethehabitationsofKowandhispeople.

Thefourthdaybroughtbetterprospects,foralargernumberofcanoescongregatedaboutthevessel,someofthemhavingcomefromsomedistancewithabettercollectionofskins.Hardlyhadtradingstarted,however,thanitwasinterruptedbyadisputebetweentwofactionsofthenativesthat,foratime,threatenedtobecomeserious.

TwoIndiansstartedanargumentoversomematterofprecedenceintheorderinwhichtheypresentedthemselvesfortrade.Onesavage,invectivefailingtowinhimtheadvantagesought,pickeduphisspear



andthrewitathisrival.Theweaponmisseditsmark,butstruckanotherIndianinacanoesomefewfeetaway.

Pandemoniumbrokeloose.Theairwasfilledwithshrillyells.Insults,denunciations,anddenialswerescreamedfromcanoetocanoe.Menandwomenflewtoarms.Thewarriorspickeduptheirspears,whilethewomenlashedtheirknivestotheirwristsandpreparedtoengageinadeadlymêlée.Canoeswerebackedawayoradvancedasthefactionalgroupsformed,andpermittedaspaceofwatertoseparatethehostilefleets.

Onboardthebrigatthefirstsignoftroubletheboarding-netswereplacedinposition;menwerecalledtotheirstationsattheguns,musketsweredistributedandcutlassesbuckledon,inreadinesstorepelanyhostilemovementagainsttheship.

Kowwasonboardatthetime.Hewatchedthepreparationswithevidentinterestandsomeamusement;alternatelysurveyingtheactivitiesofthesailors,andthenthoseofhisownpeople.Atlast,whenhethoughtthatmattershadprogressedfarenough,hesprangtotherail,andscoldedhispeopleviciously.Standingonthebulwarkhelookeddownuponhistribe,andpouredoutuponthemsuchatorrentofabuse,thatthewhites,whocouldnotunderstandhislanguage,butcouldinterprethistone,weresurprisedthatnoneretaliated.Instead,

spearswerelowered,kniveswereunloosened,andmenandwomensatwithbowedheads,humbledandcowedbythevoiceoftheirchief.

ItwasthefollowingmorningthatLawrencemadeadiscoverythatwastoproveofgreatvaluetotheenterprise.Hestoodwatchingtheeffortsofthecaptaintoinveigleayoungchieftopartwithacutsack,orrobeoffur.Thenativelookedwithcontemptuponthemerchandisethatwasofferedtohimintrade.

"Idon'tknowwhattodowiththesemisers,"finallyexclaimedthecaptainindisgust."AtNootkatheywouldgiveanythingforcopperandbrassornaments,butherethisfellowhasrefusedeverythingIhaveshowedhim."

"I'vebeenwatchingthem,"repliedLawrence,"andIthinktheymighttakesomethingfashionedoutofiron."

"What,forgoodness'sake?"

"Well,Iwouldsuggestthatyouhavethesmithmakeaneck-ringliketheonethischief'ssquawiswearing,"andheindicatedacircletofredfibreabouttheneckoftheyoungwoman."She'sveryproudofit.AndInoticethatthewomenhavealottodowiththebargaining."

Thecaptainexaminedtheneck-ringforamoment."Well,it'sworthtrying,"hegrumbled."Isupposeiftheywon'ttakewhatwehave,

we'llhavetomakewhattheywant."

Theblacksmithwascalled,andviewedtheornament.Hisforgewassetup,andhewenttoworktomakeone,twistingfourorfivethinrodstogetherandweldingthemintheformofahoop.Itrequiredseveralhourstomakeasingleone,andbynightfallhehadonlybeenabletofashionfourofthem,althoughhehadworkedhardatthetaskallday.

"I'mafraidthesethingswillbreaktheirnecks,"commentedthecaptain,ashepickedoneup."Itmustweighfiveorsixpounds."



"Thatdon'tmatter,"declaredMr.Cruft,"ifthewomenwantthem.Nativewomenarejustliketheirwhitesisters;iffashiondecreessomething,they'llhavetohaveit,evenifitisn'tcomfortable."

Thechiefofficerwasright,forimmediatelytheyoungchiefwhohadbeensoloathetopartwithhiscutsackcaughtsightoftheneck-ring,heofferedthethreeskinscomprisingthegarmentforit.Thuswasthepriceestablished,andsoonIndianswerecrowdingaround,offeringfursinexchangeforcollars.Thefirstfourweresoldinafewmoments,andotherswereeagerlyseizeduponwhilestillwarmfromtheforge.

Tradeincreasedinotherwaystoo.Indiansarrivedfromotherpartsofthecoast,andtheywerewillingatfirsttodisposeoftheirotterpeltsfortheordinarygoodsofcommerce.Once,however,theyhadcaughtsightoftheironcollars,theattractionsofcopper,brass,andcolouredclothsgavewaytothedesireforpossessionofthesemetalneck-rings.Itwasonlyaftermuchbargainingandargumentthattheywouldtakeothergoods.

SosatisfactorydidbusinessnowbecomethatCaptainIngraham,whohadintendedtoleaveKow'svillage,decidedtostayforafewextradays.Thiswaswelcomedbytheboys,foritgavethemanopportunityofexploringthesound.Theywereparticularlyinterestedinarude

fortressthatstoodhighuponaboldbluff.Itwasinthenatureofseveralplatformsoflogs,surroundedbyastockade,andofferedexcellentdefencefromassaultbyforcesunarmedwithcannon.

Anotherobjectofcuriositywasasmallislandwherethedeadweredeposited.Examinationshowedthatthetopoftherockwascoveredwithcuriouslycarvedcedarboxes,orcoffins,whileothersweretiedinthebranchesofthetreesthatshadedtheislet.Aboutthecasketsandbeneaththetreeswereallmannerofstoneandboneimplements,fooddishesandceremonialbowls,fortheuseofthedepartedinthespiritworld.

"Nicholas,"warnedLawrence,uponhisreturnfromtheplace,"ifyou

tryandrunawayagain,thecaptainisgoingtotakeyouthereinthedeadofnightandleaveyouwiththeghosts."

Thecookdroppedthepanhewasscouring,andhiseyesgrewlargewithfright."Lawseeme,MassaDrake,I'senotgwineasho'--nosiree.Ahwon'goasho'--notebenifdeshipama-sinkin'."

"Well,remember--itdon'tmatterwhereweare--we'llcomebackandputyouontheIslandoftheDeadifyoutryanddesert."

TheappearanceofalargefleetofcanoesofatribewithwhichKowwasatenmityatfirstgaverisetoapprehensionsoftrouble,butitwassoonapparentthatthestrangerscametotradeandnottomakewar.

Theybroughtmanyexcellentskinswiththem,andwerereasonableintheirdemands.

Therivalrybetweenthetwopeoples,whichhadsooftenledtobloodshed,nowtookasurprisingturn.Kowdecidedthat,itbeingpoorgeneralshiptoopenlywagewaratthemoment,hewoulddespoilthemotherwise.Heaccordinglyproducedasurprisinglylargeassortmentofchoicefurs,andofferedthemtothewhitetradersatpricesasridiculouslylowastheyhadpreviouslybeenabsurdlyhigh.Thenew-comers,perforce,hadtomeetthecompetition,andCaptainIngraham



andhishelperswerekeptbusyfrommorninguntilnight,appraisingfurs,displayingmerchandise,andcompletingsales.

When,twoweeksaftercomingtotheplace,alltheavailablefurshadbeensecured,atallyshowedthatthreehundredchoiceskinsandafewoddpieceshadbeensecured.

Acoursewasnowsettothesouth-east,andforaweekthe_Hope_ cruisedalongtheshore,withbutindifferentresults.Butwhiletradewasslowtheblacksmithwasbusilyemployedathisforgemakingneck-ringsagainstthetimethatanothervillagepossessedofagoodlystockshouldbeencountered.

"Asail!"shoutedthelookoutoneafternoon;andimmediateexcitementfollowed,forithadalreadybeendecidedthatifaSpanishvesselwassightedeveryeffortshouldbemadetoavoidcontactwithher,butashipofanyothernationshouldbeapproachedwiththeideaoflearningthestateofaffairsatNootka.

"ByJove,"exclaimedthecaptain,afterviewingthestrangerwithhisglassfromtherigging."It'sthe_Columbia_.Giveoursignal."

BeforeleavingBostonanarrangementhadbeenmadewithRobertHaswell,themanwhowastoactasmateonthatvesselwhensheagainsailedfor

theNorth-WestCoast,foraninterchangeofprivatesignalsifthetwovesselsshouldmeet.Thiswasnowdonebythe_Hope_,andastheshipsapproached,itwasreturnedfromthe_Columbia_.

CaptainIngraham,accompaniedbyKenneth,boardedthe_Columbia_,whereCaptainGraywelcomedhisoldfirstofficerwarmlyandescortedhimtothecabin.Kennethremainedondeck,chattingwithMr.Haswell,asthecaptainstalkedinthecabinoverabottleofwine.

"Here,"whisperedthemateofthe_Columbia_,"taketheseandhidethem,"andheslippedapacketoflettersintoKenneth'shand,astheyleanedoverthebulwark.WithoutcommentKennethdidso;butwhen,severalhourslater,theyhadreturnedtothe_Hope_,heexclaimed,as

hehandedthepackagetoCaptainIngraham,"Whatapeculiarwaytodeliverletters."

"Notatall,"wastheanswer,asthecaptainsortedthecontentsoftheparcel."HisownerswouldnotallowGraytocarrylettersforus,butHaswellbroughtthesealongsecretly.Here'soneforyou,"andhehandedalettertoKenneth.

"I'msorrythere'snothingforMr.Crafts,"headded."I'mafraidhewon'tbewithuslong,andaletterfromhisfolkswouldhavecheeredhim."

Itwasunfortunatelytrue,andallonboardrealisedthatthepopular

secondofficerhadnotlongtolive.Hehaddeclinedrapidly,andwasrarelyabletoleavehiscabin.Hehimselfknewthathistimewasshort,forhetoldLawrenceoneday,betweencoughs:"I'mboundforthelastport--I'mmakingmylastvoyage;andI'llbereadytogoashore."

Avisitwasmadetothemainland,butwithoutmuchprofit,andthen,earlyinAugust,anchorwasdroppedoffalargevillageontheeasternsideofQueenCharlotteIslands,whereapowerfulchiefnamedCumshewaheldsway.



Atfirstthechiefrefusedtosellhisfurs,viewingwithcontemptthestockoftradegoods,butwhenhewasshownoneoftheironcollars,ofwhichalargenumberhadbeenmanufactured,heimmediatelydemandedone,andbeforenightfallnolessthan176primesea-otterpeltshadbeenpurchased.Thenextdayeighty-fourwereaddedtothestore.Strangersarrivedalmostdailyfromothervillages,andformorethanaweekamostprofitabletradewascontinued.

BarteringwassuddenlyterminatedbytheoutbreakofhostilitiesbetweenCumshewa'stribeandanotherlivingfartothesouth.HisenemieshadattackedseveralcanoesbelongingtoCumshewa'svillage,andkilledandwoundedseveralofhispeople.Thechiefgatheredhiswarriorsandassembledhisfleetofwarcanoes,andwentawaytoseekrevenge.

"Wenowhavenearlyeighthundredandfiftyskins,andthat'smorethanIexpected,"saidCaptainIngraham,asheviewedthealmostdesertedbay."Ithinkwe'llgetreadytoleavethecoastforChina.We'lltakeonwoodandwater,andsailinafewdaysfortheSandwichIslands,wherewe'llrecruitbeforegoingtoChina."

Theboysweredelightedattheprospectofachange,foraftersixweeksofbarteringwiththesavagestheyweretiredofthecontinualhagglingoverfurs,withnoopportunityofgoingonshore.Sowarlike

werethenativesthatthecaptainhadrefusedpermissionforanyofthecrewtoleavethevessel,exceptinthelongboat,wellarmedandfullymanned.

Thatnightthemanonwatchheardthedippingofapaddleinthewaterclosetotheship.Heshoutedachallenge,andimmediatelycametheanswerthatskinswerebeingbroughtonboard.Hearingtheshouting,thecaptainhurriedtothedeck,andorderedthecanoeaway.Therewasnoresponse.Allhandswerecalledondeck,andoncemorethewarningwasgivenfortheIndianstobegone,butinsteadtheypersistedinadvancing.

"Allright,men,givethemavolleywiththemuskets,"hesaid."Aim

high."Andadozenshotswerefired.Thishadthedesiredeffect,forwithcriesoffrighttheIndiansfled.

Inthemorningthecanoescameoffasusual,andseveralofthechiefswhohadvisitedthebaytotrade,protestedthatthevisitorsofthenightbeforewerenottheirpeople.Asallappearedtobetranquil,thelongboatwasorderedashore,tobringoffsomesparsthathadbeencutnearthebeach.

Hardlyhadthemensettoworkthantheyweresurroundedbysavages,whothreatenedthemwithknivesandspears.

Lawrence,whowaswatchingtheshorepartyfromthedeck,wasthefirst

toobservethetrouble.Hesprangtoaswivelgun,whichhebroughtaroundtobearonthesavages,atthesametimecallingtotheotherstotaketheirstations.CaptainIngrahamhurriedfromhiscabin,andorderedtheshipclearedofIndians.

Meanwhile,onshore,themenwerefallingbacktotheboat,keepingtheirfacestowardsthesavageswhoweremenacingthem.

"ShallIshoot?"askedLawrence."Yes;overtheirheads."



Lawrencetouchedoffthegun,whileanotherswivelandafour-poundercrashedoutatalmostthesameinstant,sendingsolidshotandsmallbulletssmashingintotheforestdirectlybehindthesavages,strippingbarkandbranchesfromthetrees.TheIndiansfled,shrieking,inalldirections.

InafewmomentsCumshewa,whohadreturnedatdawn,wasonboard,todeclarethattheaggressorswerenotofhistribe.

TherewasnofurthertroublewiththeIndians,andtheworkofwoodingandwateringwentonapace.

"I'dliketogofishingbeforeweleavehere,Larry,"declaredKenneth,thedaybeforetheyweretosail.

"SowouldI,Ken.Thenativesarepeaceable.Whynotaskthecaptain?"

"Allright."AndKennethsoughtandobtainedpermissiontotakethesmallboatandTinpotsfortheexcursion.

Delightedattheideaofaday'ssportwithhookandline,thetriorowedtowardsthemouthoftheharbour,andtowardsapatchofkelp,whereitwasexpectedthatthefishwouldbefound.

Norweretheydisappointed.Thefishingprovedtobegood,anditwasnotlongbeforeanumberofsmallcodandflat-fishhadbeencaught.Noattentionwaspaidtothepassingoftime,untilafterTinpotshadlandedalargefish,whichinitsstrugglesentangledhisline.Helookedup,andexclaimedindismay,"There'samistcomin',sirs,an'Hidon'tknowwhere'sshore."

Theboyslookedupinalarm.Astheyhadbeenfishingamisthaddescended,andthedeadcalmofthewatersgavenoindicationofthedirectionofland.

"Whatshallwedo?"askedKenneth.

"Idon'tknow,"repliedhischum,whiletheoldsailoronlyshookhisheaddolefully."Onethingiscertain,we'vegottokeepourheads.We'vebeendriftingaboutforthreehours,"headded,lookingathiswatch."Wehavegottotryandmakeland,andstaythereuntilthefoggoes.Thenwecanhearthegunsofthebrig,forthey'llbelookingforus.Sohaulinthelinesandwe'llstart."

Theheadoftheboatwasturnedinthedirectioninwhichlandwasbelievedtobelocated,andforanhourtheypulledattheoars,butwithoutgaininganyfurtherideaofwheretheywere.Occasionallytheystoppedandstrainedtheirearsforanysoundthatmightguidethem,butonlythegentlelappingofthewateragainsttheplankingoftheboat,andthedrippingsfromtheoarscouldbeheard.

"Theredon'tseemtobeanyuserowinganymore,"saidKennethatlast."I'veheardthatwhenpeoplearelostinthewoodstheywalkroundincircles.We'veprobablybeendoingthesame.Wemayonlybegoingfartherawayallthetime."

Lawrencenodded."Butlisten!Ihearsomething."

Faintly,butgrowingmoreandmoredistinct,camethesoundofwoodtouchingagainstwood.



"Indians,"whisperedLawrence;andhehelduphishandtoenforcesilence.Theyscarcelybreathed,fearingtoattracttheattentionofthesavagesbeforetheydiscoveredwhethertheywerefriendly.IfofCumshewa'stribe,theyfeltsurethatthepromiseofarewardwouldinducetheIndianstoguidethembacktotheship,butifofanothernation--anythingmighthappen.

Louderandloudergrewthesounds,andvoicescallingandansweringshowedthattherewasmorethanonecanoe.TheonlyhopetheboysheldwasthattheIndianswouldpassatsomedistance,andthustheywouldescapeinthefog.

Nowtheforemostcanoewasabreastofthem,ahundredyardsaway,theyjudged.Theybreathedeasier.Asuddenshoutfromtheotherside,however,showedthatthekeeneyesoftheIndiansinthesecondcanoehadmadeoutthebulkoftheboatinthegreyofthemist,althoughtheycouldnotseethecanoe.

CHAPTERVIII

INCAPTIVITY

"It'snouse;putyourgundown,"orderedKenneth,asTinpotsreachedtopickuphismusket."They'retoomanyforus.Appeartobeindifferent.That'sthebestway."

TheIndiandugoutnowtookshapeinthemist.Itwasalargewarcanoe,andfromitsbuildtheboysrecognisedwithdismaythatitwasnotfromanyofthevillageswithwhichtheywerefamiliar.Severalnatives,wild,ferociouslookingmen,withfacesbedaubedwithblackpaint,stoodamongthepaddlerswithspearspoisedreadytobethrown.

Althoughthesightstruckthemwithterror,neithertheboysnor

Tinpotspaidanyapparentattentiontothehostilewarriors,butcontinuedtofish,havingdroppedtheirlinesoverthesideoftheboatwhentheyfirstheardtheapproachingcanoes.

"Idon'tthinkthey'veeverseenwhitemenbefore,"whisperedLawrence,asthewarcanoecametoastopafewfeetaway."Wemustexcitetheircuriosityorthey'llkillus.WhenIgivetheword,startlaughingandsinging."

"Allright,"assentedKenneth,andTinpotsnoddedhisagreement.

Twomorecanoesnowappearedoutofthemist,andthenewarrivals,afteranoisyparleywiththeoccupantsofthefirstcraft,commenced

topaddleinawidecircleaboutthewhitemen.

"Now,"whisperedLawrence;andthetriostartedtolaugh,shout,andsing."Ken,oh,Ken,startsomething--someanticstoattracttheirattention,"heroared."Tinpots--ha,ha--dosomething."Hehimselfstartedtowavehishandsabovehishead,whilehischumstoodupanddivestedhimselfofhisjacket,whichheturnedinsideoutandputonagain.

Tinpots,whowasbellowinganoldseadittywithsuchvigourthathe



didnotatfirstcomprehendwhatwasrequiredofhim,atlaststoppedhissinging,andhesitatedforamomentastowhathecoulddo.

"Takeoffyourhatandshowyourbaldhead,"shoutedLawrence;andwithslowdeliberationtheoldmanliftedhiswoollenbonnet,revealingaredhandkerchieftiedabouthishead,andthisheinturnremoved,exhibitingahairlessandshiningdome.Theeffectwasimmediatelynoticeableuponthenatives,whowerebutafewfeetaway.

"Stopnowandbeindifferent,"calledLawrence;andtheybecamesilentandmotionless.

Slowlytheforemostcanoecameonuntilitscrapedagainstthesideoftheboat.Achiefreachedforwardandtimorouslytouchedthesailor'sbaldheadwithhisforefinger,andwithdrawinghishandlookedcuriouslyatit.Hesaidsomethingtohiscompanions,andtheyappearedtobeimpressedbyit.

Severalsavagesnowclimbedonboardtheboat,nointerferencebeingofferedthem.Theypickedupandexaminedvariousarticles,holdingthemuptotheinspectionoftheirfriends.

"Wecan'texpecttogetawayfromthem,"advisedKennethinaquietvoice."Ourbestplanistogowiththemuninvited,ratherthanas

prisoners.Putyourthingsinthenearestcanoe,andwe'llclimbinaswell.Itwilltakethembysurprise,andthey'llprobablyoffernoobjection."

Withoutapparenthastetheyliftedtheirfewbelongingsintothecanoe,andthen,totheastonishmentofthenatives,climbedintoitthemselvesandtooktheirseatsonthematsthatwereinthebottomofthecraft.FromthemannerinwhichtheIndiansregardedthem,gazingattheminopen-mouthedamazement,itwasapparentthatthewhiteshadtheadvantagethatcomeswithsurprise,andthatthesavageswereinclinedtoregardthemassupernatural.

"CaptainCooksaidas'owyoushouldhalwaysdowhatanativedidn't

hexpect,"declaredTinpots,"an'Hihamgoin'todohit,"andhedrewoutastubbypipe,and,withsteel,flint,andtinder,startedtosmoke.

TheIndiansdrewawayfromhiminhorrorandsurprise,butTinpotscalmlypuffedawayatthepipe,andblewsmokeincloudsfromhismouth.

"Theythinkhe'sagodofsomekind,"whisperedLawrence."He'stakingfireintohisstomach,andit'snotburninghim."

Aftersomediscussionbetweenthenativechiefandhisfollowersthepaddlerstooktheirplaces;theship'sboatwasabandoned,andthebigcanoesstartedoff.Itwaswithsinkingheartsthattheboyssawtheirboatdisappearinthemistbehindthem.

Foralongtimenothingwassaid,foreachrealisedthattheywereconfrontingterriblepossibilities,andtheprospectwasnotsuchastoinduceconversation.AtlastLawrencespoke."Ken,"hewhispered,"listen:theIndiansevidentlyregardTinpotsassomesortofagod.We'vegottoplayuptothatidea--it'souronlychance.We'vegottotreathimwithgreatrespect."

"Iguessyou'reright,"wastheanswer."I'dbettertellhimtoputonairs,"andheleanedforwardandwhisperedtotheoldsailor,whose



astonishmentwascomplete.AtfirstTinpotsrefusedtoplaythepart,sayinghe"couldn'tdohitright,"buthewassoonpersuadedofthenecessityofhisdoingso.

Graduallythemistcleared,asthewindfreshenedalittle,andwhen,afterseveralhours,theycouldseeland,itwasmanymilesdistant.Fromthepositionofthesun,andusingthedialofhiswatchasacompass,Kennethfoundtheywereheadedinasoutherlydirection.

Hourafterhourdraggedslowlyaway.Lawrence,whohadbeensittingwithhisbacktoalargecedarbox,soughttoshifthispositiontorelievehiscrampedlimbs,andindoingsoaccidentlyknockedthelidoffthechest.Heturnedtoreplaceit,andglancedintothebox--andalmostdroppedbackinafaint.Theboxwasfilledwithhumanheads.Itwasafullminutebeforeherecoveredsufficientlytocommunicatethegruesomeintelligenceofhisdiscoverytohischum."Ken,"hestammered,"Ken--thesepeoplehavebeenraidingtheislanders.Theyhaveaboxfilledwithheads--rightbehindme.TheymustbethepeoplethatKowwasfightingagainst.Hesaidtheycamefromawayinthesouth.Iguesswe'reinforit,andnomistake."

"Nevermind,oldman,"comfortedhisfriend,"we'renotdeadyet,andwe'llfindsomewayofescape."

HourafterhourtheIndianscontinuedtheirjourney,thepaddlerskeepingstrokewithmonotonousregularity.ThelongAugustdaydrewgraduallytoaclose,butstillthenativeskeptuptheirsteadywork.Occasionallytwoofthemwouldstopandrestforafewmoments,andwhentheyresumedpaddlingtwootherswouldtakeabriefrespite.TherewereeighteenIndiansinthebigcanoe,whichcouldeasilyhaveaccommodatedtenoradozenmore.Theeveningwindbroughtachoppysea,butthedangersofstormanddarknessseemedtoholdnoterrorsforthesavages.

Thecanoewouldclimbawave,poiseforasecondanddashdownintothetrough,toplungeitshigh-pointednoseandflaringprowintothesucceedingwallofwater,upwhichitwouldwallow,torepeatthedive

beforetheadvancingsea.

Tired,andwithmusclesachingfromthepositionsinwhichtheywereforcedtosit,hungry,fortheyhadnothingtoeat,andchilledtothebonefromthecoldseaspume,theboyssufferedintensely.NotsoTinpots,whomanagedtocurlhimselfuponthebottomofthecanoeandsleep.Minutespassedlikehours,andeachhourseemedtobealongday.

Asdaywasbreakingthecanoeturnedtowardsasmallisland,wherealandingwasmade.TheboysandTinpotsfollowedtheIndiansashore,where,wrappingthemselvesintheirfurblankets,thenativesthrewthemselvesdowntosleep.Itastonishedtheladsthatnosentinels

wereposted,andnoattemptwasmadetoplaceguardsoverthem.

"Iguesstheyknowsaswehain'tgoin'torunhaway,"wasthecommentofTinpots.

"You'reright,"answeredLawrence."Anditwouldseemthatthey'renearhome,andarejustrestingupbeforemakingtheirappearance."

"Well,I'mhungry,"declaredKenneth,"andI'mgoingtogetsomethingtoeat.Therewassomelunchinthebasketwehadintheboat,and



it'sinthecanoe.I'mgoingtogetit,"andhecrawledawaytotheplacewherethecanoewasdrawnuponthebeach.Hefoundthebasketwithoutmuchdifficulty,andwasdelightedtodiscoverthattheIndianshadnotdisturbeditscontents.Itcontainedbread,meat,andabottleofwine,anduponthesetheymadeasubstantialbreakfast.Astheyatetheydiscussedinwhisperstheirfuturecourseofaction.

"Itappearstome,"saidLawrence,"thatitwasbecausetheywereonawarpartyandhadwonavictorythattheydidnotkillusonfirstsight.Then,byexcitingtheircuriosity,weconvincedthemthatwewerenotordinarycreatures.Itwasawisesuggestionofyours,Ken,tostepintotheircanoe.Wewouldhavebeentakenanyway;butnow,atleast,we'resortofguestsratherthanprisoners,andhavenotbeenrobbed.Eachofushasapistol,powder-flask,bullets,andaknife.Besides,therearethetwomuskets.Wemustmanagetokeepthesethings,especiallythemusketsandknives.Theonlywayforustokeepourheadsisforustothinkfasterthantheydo,andtokeepthemastonishedeverytimethattheyshowsignsofgettingugly."

"Larry'sright,"declaredKenneth,addressingthesailor."Andatpresent,Tinpots,you'rethemainbrace.Thatbaldheadofyours,andyourpipe,areoursafeguards,andwe'vegottoplanhowtokeepthemthinkingyou'reagreatwhitechief,orgod----"

"ButHisay,"protestedTinpots,"hitwon'tdo,y'know;'ereHi'vebeenaforethemastallmelife,an'youyounggentlemenisonthequarter-deck----"

"That'lldo,"interruptedLawrence."KenandIaredependingonyoutopullusthrough--and,besides,it'stheonlywayyoucansaveyourself."

"Hallright,"grumbledtheoldfellow,"butyou'll'avetotellmewhattodo."

Theboys'conjecturewascorrect.TheIndianswerebuttakingabriefrestbeforemakingtriumphalreturntotheirvillage.Aftertwohoursslumbertheywereastir,andbegandeckingthemselvesoutintheir

finery,whichconsistedforthemostpartoffibreheadandneckrings,dyedred,andblanketsofcedarbarkandsea-otter.Thesombreblackpaintofwarwasreplacedwithstreaksofredochre.Whenthesepreparationswerecomplete,andtheyhadbrokenfastfromtheirstockofdriedfishandberrycakes,theypreparedtore-embark.Thegruesometrophiesoftheirvictory,tothehorroranddisgustoftheboys,wereuncovered,andsomewereimpaledonspears,whileotherswerehungoverthehighbowsofthecanoe.

Whenthesignalwasgivenforthemtoagaintaketheirplaceinthecanoe,theladsrosefromtheloguponwhichtheyhadbeensitting,andhavingremovedTinpots'hat,theyeachplacedahandreverentlyuponhisbaldhead,andwiththeotherpointedtowardsthesun.Theythen

kneltdown,andthesailor,placingahandoneachbendedback,assistedhimselftorise,andstridingwithwell-assumeddignitytothecanoe,permittedhimselftobeliftedaboard.Theboysthentooktheseatstheyhadoccupiedonthepreviousday.Theywereimmenselypleasedtonotetheawewithwhichthenativesregardedtheceremony.

TheIndiansbenttotheirpaddleswithawilland,takingtheirtimefromthesteersman,sangwild,barbaricsongsasthecanoeracedthroughthewater.Aftermorethananhourtheyemergedfromanarrowchannel,toseeastragglingvillagesetonthebeachofa



crescent-shapedbay.Thewarriorsgreetedthesightwithsavageyells,andwavedalofttheirghastlyspoils.Thenpickinguptheirpaddlesagaintheysentthecanoeaheadatafuriousspeed.Onemanalonebetrayednoexcitement.Hewastheheadchief,whosat,silentandexpressionless,withhissea-otterrobewrappedtightlyabouthim.Itwasnotforhimtoexultatthismomentintheoverwhelmingvictorythathadbeenhis.Itwasforhimtoshowthatsuccessinwarwasusualwithhim.Histimeofboastingwouldcomelater:nowitwasforotherstotellhowhehadledhisforcesintothesleepingcampofhisenemies,andslaughteredascoreormoreofthembeforetheycouldbeawakened,andhadscurriedawayinthenightagainwithoutthelossofasinglememberofhisband.Suchastory,hewellknew,wouldbehandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationaboutthecampfiresofhispeople.

Nowthecanoeshalted.Theyretreated,asiffleeingfromanenemy;nowtheyadvancedagain,faster,faster,faster,towherethegreat,ugly,weather-greyedwoodenshedspouredouttheirclamorous,exultantoccupants,whoraceddowntothewater'sedgetogreetthevictoriouswarriors.Allsongsandshoutingsdiedawayinthecanoe;thefightingmenhaddonetheirpart;itwasforoldmen,women,andchildren,andthosewhohadnotaccompaniedthebandtosingtheirpraises,andforthemtoacceptthetributethatwastheirs.So,slowlythecanoecametothebeach,theretobeseizedbyahundredhandsanddrawnuponthe

shingle.

Inthefirstenthusiasticoutburstofwelcomelittleattentionwasgiventothethreestrangers;butnow,asthethrongincreasedaboutthecanoe,theywerenoticed,andseveral,believingthemtobeprisoners,madethreateninggesturestowardsthem.Nowitwastimeforthechieftospeak,andwithfluenttonguehetoldofhowthesestrangepeople--sonsofthegreatsea-god--hadbeenfoundafloatinagreatshell;howone,whowaschief,hadashininghead,andconsumedfire--andhowthesesonsofthesea-godhadenteredhiscanoeandhadcometodwellwiththem,thussignalisingthemasthemostfavoured,aswellasthemostpowerful,ofallpeople.

Whiletheboyscouldnotunderstandwhatthechiefwassaying,theyknewfromhisgesturesthathewasrecommendingthemtohistribe,andwhenhestoppedtheystoodup,bowedandsmiled,andsteppedfromthecanoe.TheyassistedTinpotstothebeach,andwereforamomentatalosswhatnexttodo,untilLawrencesaidinawhisper,"Wemustbringawaytheguns.Takeoffyourcoat,Ken,"andtogethertheydivestedthemselvesoftheirjackets.Pickingupthemuskets,powder-hornsandshotpouches,Lawrenceranthebarrelofoneofthegunsthroughthearmsofhiscoat,whileKennethfollowedhisexample.

"Nowtakeholdofthebutts,"orderedLawrence,"and,Tinpots,yougetbetweentheguns.I'llleadtheway,"andpickingupthemuzzlesofthemuskets,theyfollowedinthewakeofthechief,whileTinpots,

flankedoneithersidebyatrailingcoat,walkedbetweentheboys.

TheIndiansmadewayreadilyforthemastheyproceededthroughthecrowduptheslopingbeach,towardsthelargesthouse,intowhichthechiefhaddisappeared.Theyfollowedhim.

TheinteriorofthebuildingwassomewhatsimilartothatofthenativesofQueenCharlotteIslands,exceptthatthecentralportionoftheearthenfloorhadnotbeenexcavatedtoalowerlevelthanthesides.Anumberoffamiliesresidedinthelodge,theirquartersbeing



markedoffwithmatwalls.Afireblazedonthefloorinthecentreoftheplace,whilesmallerfamilyfireswerescatteredaboutnearertotheprivateaccommodations.

Thechiefledthewaytotheupperendofthebuilding,wherelargerquartersindicatedthatheandhisimmediatefamilydwelt.Totheamazementoftheboyshedisplayednosignofaffectiontowardsthewomenandchildrenwhocrowdedaroundhim,anddidnotdeigntonoticethewomanwhoevidentlywashiswife.Heorderednewmatstobespreadonthefloor,andtothesehemotionedTinpots,whogravelyseatedhimself.Theboysplacedthedrapedmusketsoneithersideofthesailor,andsquatteddownbehindhim.

ThebighallwassooncrowdedwithIndians,whopressedaboutthestrangers,gapingatthem,whileoneortwotimidlytouchedTinpots'garments,recoilingwithcriesofalarmwhenhegrowledatthem.

Theheatoftheday,theevilodoursoftheplace,andthesmokefromthesmoulderingfiresalmostprovedtoomuchforthem,buttheyfollowedthewhisperedcautionofLawrenceto"stickitout."

Thechiefhadboiledfishandberriesfloatinginoilplacedbeforethem,andtheyforcedthemselvestoeatwithfeignedappreciation."Wemustgetusedtothisstuff,"groanedKenneth,whentheothers

hesitatedtoacceptthehospitality.

Afterthemealtheycarriedoutthesuggestionoftheoldsailorthattheygooutside,andproceededfromtheplaceinthesamesolemnmannerinwhichtheyhadentered.Thechieffollowedthem.

Theydidnotgofar,beingwellenoughpleasedtobeoutofthebuildingandinthesunlightagain,butseatedthemselvesonadriftwoodlogonthebeach.

"Thethingtodoistoseethatwekeepourarmswithusallthetime.Thatwasagoodplanofyours,Larry,ingettingthemawayfromthecanoe.Justhowlongwecanfoolthesepeopleintobelievingthat

we'resuperiorbeings,Idon'tknow.Iftheyfindoutwearenot,thenwe'llhavetofightforit,sowemustkeepourmusketsandpistolswithusandreadyforuseatalltimes."

"That'swhatHithinktoo,"agreedTinpots;"buthit'sgoin'tobecoldonyou'avin'todragyourcoatsaroundhallthetime;butwemustkeepthemmuskets."

"Yes,wemustkeepthisceremonyup;butperhapswecanreserveitforstateoccasions,andgetsomethingelsefordailyuse,suchastakingamorningplunge.Itwillbegoodforus,anyway,andwillhelptoughenus.WemuststudytheIndians'habits,andespeciallythemannerinwhichtheypreparetheirfood,forI'veheardthatsomesavagesare

verysuperstitiousaboutthesethings.Wecan'thopetomakeourescapeuntilweknowsomethingaboutthecountryanditspeople,orashipturnsup,sowehadbettertrytomakeourselvesascomfortableaspossible,andlearnwhatwecanoftheirlanguageandmanners."

"That'sright,"declaredKenneth,"andifwecanonlyavoidarousingsuspicionwe'llgetalongallright.Ithinkwe'vetheadvantagenowbydoingthingswithoutcompulsion.NowIproposethatwestartto-morrowmorningtobuildourselvesalittlehouseorhutclosetothechief'slodge.Theywon'ttrytostopus,forwe'restillstrangers."



"Agreed,"exclaimedLawrence.

"Butyouwill'avetodohallthework,"grinnedTinpots,"forHi'magod."

CHAPTERIX

THEGODOFFIRE

Theboyssettoworkthefollowingmorningupontheconstructionoftheirhut.Theoldsailor,whoseemedtoenjoythedeferenceshowntohim,lookedonandofferedadvice,which,beingofapracticalnaturebasedonalongexperiencegainedinmanypartsoftheworld,wasmostuseful.

AtfirsttheIndianslookedoninwonderment,butgradually,asthepurposeofthestructurebecameevident,theyjoinedinandwillinglyassistedinmovingandplacinglogsandgatheringsticksandbranchesfortherudeshelter.

"Whatweneed,"pantedKenneth,astheypausedaftershiftingadriftlogintopositionasthebasetimberforonewall,"isanythingtogiveusshelterforthepresent.Wecanimproveitlater."

"Yes,"noddedhischum."Idon'tcaretosharethehospitalityandsmellsofthechief'shouseanylongerthannecessary.IthoughtIwasusedtoanything,butIcouldn'tsleeplastnight,especiallyashehadthoseislanders'headshangingtothatbeamaboveus."

Byutilisingdriftwood,boughsfromtheforest,andboardsandoldpiecesofmatvolunteeredbythenatives,atemporary,buthabitablehut,adozenfeetsquare,wascompletedinthreedays,andintothistheyimmediatelymoved.Thepolesandstickshadbeenlashedtogether

withdriedkelpandnativecordmadefromtherootsofcedar-trees.

"Thiswilldoforatime,"commentedLawrence,"butwe'vegottogetsomethingmoresubstantialbeforethewetseasonsetsin."

"Right,sir,"agreedTinpots."Hiwouldsayas'ownotimeshouldbelostabouthit.CourseHican'tdohanythin',bein'agod,buthallthesamehitwouldbewisetokeeprighthonimprovin'the'ouse.Besides,hitwillgiveusachancetolookroundabit."

Theboysagreedthatthesailor'ssuggestionwasagoodone,andtheydeterminedtokeeprightonwiththeiroperations.Atrenchwasdugaboutthehuttodrawoffthewater;thesidewallsandroofwere

strengthenedandmadeasweatherproofaspossible.

"Idon'tliketheideaofhavingtohaveourfireinthemiddleofthehouse,"grumbledKennethoneday.

"Well,whynotbuildachimney?"laughedLawrence.

"Yes,"agreedTinpots,"Hiseensomegoodclayjustalittlewayhupthatcreek,an'there's'eapsofstones."



"That'sagoodidea,"Kennethagreed.

"Yes,hitis,"Tinpotsacknowledged;"an',besides,"headded,"themHindians'asbeenfeedin'uswithfishan'berries,butthey'llbegettin'tiredofthat,soweshoulddowhatwecannow,whilewe'rebeingtreatedlikeguests."

Underthedirectionoftheoldman,whohadafairideaofthemasonrytrade,acquiredwhileemployedatdockyardwork,theladssettoworktobuildafire-place.Itwasnoeasytaskatfirst,butgraduallyittookform.Quantitiesofclaywerecarriedfromthebanksofthestream,andthis,mixedwithwaterandaproportionofpulverisedclamshellsandsand,madeatolerablemortar.

TheIndians,whoonlyknewanopenfire,couldnotunderstandthereasonforthework.Theygroupedabouttheboysastheylaboured,pilingandfittingthesandstoneandbeachrocks,andfillingthecreviceswithclayandmortar.Thefire-placewasbuiltintothebackwallofthehut,withthechimneyontheoutside.Itrequiredmorethanaweekofhardtoiltocompleteit,andtheboyspreparedtobuildtheirfirstfire.

Thechief,whosenametheboyslearnedwasQuelas,withseveralofhisfollowers,waspresentinthehutasLawrencepileddriedbrackenand

twigsonthehearthpreparatorytolightingthem.HewasabouttostriketheflintandsteeltogetherwhenKennethstoppedhim.

"Don't,"hewhispered,"thesepeoplehavenotseeneitherofusstrikealightyet.TheysawTinpotslighthispipe,butIdon'tthinkthechiefsawhowitwasdone.Lethimstrikethelight."

"Good."And,turningtowardsthesailor,Lawrencehandedhimtheflintandsteel,whileKennethmadealongoration,pointingtowardsthefire-place,andthentowardstheroof.Theybothmadeadeepbow.Tinpotsleisurelykneltdownandstrucksteelandflint.Thetinder-likebrackenignitedandflamed.TherewasacryofwonderandamazementfromtheIndians,andQuelasrecoiledfromtheseamanasif

hewasindeedasupernaturalbeing.

Thefirewassoonblazingfiercely,givingoutafinewarmglowandillumination.TheIndiansweredelighted,andoneofthemranfromthehut,toreturnwithothers,whocrowdedintotheroominsuchnumbersthattherewasscarcelyspaceinwhichtoturnaround.Itwaswithsomedifficultythattheboysmadetheirwayoutintothefreshair,thenativesremainingintheover-heatedroomuntilthefiredieddown.

"That'sanotherfeatherinyourcap,"laughedLawrence."Theycertainlythinkyou'reawonder-worker,Tinpots."

"Well,hain'tagodgottodomiracles?"

"Yes,"Kennethagreed,"andthere'sanothersurpriseforthem--theyhaven'tseenususeourgunsyet.Ithink,though,wehadbetterkeeptheminreserveaslongaswecan."

Thesuccessofthefire-placeonlyencouragedtheboystofurtherimprovementsabouttheirhut,andthevenerationwithwhichtheIndiansregardedthem,followingthedemonstrationofTinpots'commandoffire,greatlyaidedthemintheirefforts,fornativesnowviedwithoneanotherinprofferingthemboardsandboxesandmats.Theyweresoon



abletocomfortablyfurnishtheirdwelling,andtoaddastoutdoortothebuilding.Whenthiswascompletedtheyweresatisfiedthattheyhadahabitationthatwouldwithstandtherigoursofwinter.

Theboyswerequicklyacquiringaknowledgeofthenativetongue,andweresoonontermsoffriendlinesswithseveralyoungIndians,withwhomtheywentouttofish.

Whentheywentoutontheseexpeditionstheywererewardedwithaportionofthefishcaught,andoccasionally,whentheywentoutintheearlymorning,adeerwouldbekilledbyanarrowfromoneoftheIndians'bows.Theyalwaysobtainedaportionofthemeat.Withtheirownlinestheyoftencaughtcodfromtherocksattheentrancetothebay,wherethewaterwasdeepoffshore.TheseTinpotssplitopen,removedthebackbone,ashehadobservedtheIndianwomendowithlargerfish,andsmokedtheminthechimneyoverafireofdampmossandleaves.Venisonwascutintostrips,andwassimilarlytreated,tobestoredawayasprovisionsforthewinter.

TheyfollowedtheIndianmethodofcookingfishbyboilingwithhotstonesdroppedintoawater-baskethalffilledwithfreshwaterfromthenear-bystream.

Onedaytheboyswereoutwiththeirnativecompanionsatsomedistance

fromthevillage,whenLawrencewasattractedbyapieceofblackstoneinthebedofasmallstreamashestoopeddowntodrink.Hereachedintothewaterandpickeditup."Look,Ken,"heexclaimed,withsomeshowofexcitement,"it'scoal."

"Coal?"

"Yes--look."Andtogethertheyexaminedit.

"Iwonderwhereitcamefrom;wemustgetsome,"declaredKenneth.

Asearchofafewmomentsrewardedthemwiththediscoveryofanarrowoutcroppingclosetothebeach.Withalargestonetheysucceededin

breakingoffseveralfairlylargepieces,whichtheycarriedtothecanoe,muchtothesurpriseofthenatives.

"We'llseeifit'llburn,andifitwillwemaybeabletogivetheIndiansanothersurprise,"Lawrencewhispered,astheyshovedthecanoeoff.

Onarrivinghometheyputapieceofcoalonthefire,andweredelightedtoseeitburn.Havingsatisfiedthemselvesthattheyhaddiscoveredsomethingofvalue,theydebatedforalongtimeastowhethertheyshouldsecureasupplyforwinteruse.Atlast,ontheadviceofTinpots,theydecidedtokeepthematterasecret,andpreservethethreelumpsthatremainedagainstanemergency,andthey

debatedlongandearnestlyhowtheycouldbestastonishthesavagesbytheuseofthecoal.

Itwasfortunateindeedforthemthattheymadethisdecision,forshortlyafterthefirstsnowfallsignalledthearrivalofwinteranothertribecametovisitthevillage.Itwasthecustom,theboyslearned,fortheIndianstospendmostofthewinterinfeasting,dancing,andstrangeceremonialritesthathadtodowithsecretsocietiesthatwereimportantfactorsintheirsocialorganisation.Itwastotakepartintheinitiatoryperformancesofthesefraternities



thatthestrangershadcome.

Thethreewhitemenwereonthebeachwhenthevisitorsarrived,andfromtheangryglancescastatthemtheyknewthatthestrangershadcomeincontactwithtraders.

"I'mafraidwe'reinforitnow,"whisperedKenneth,asheobservedaman,evidentlyapowerfulchiefandmedicineman,lookingtowardsthemandtalkingtoChiefQuelas."We'dbettergetbacktoourhut;butdon'thurry."

"Tinpots,"saidLawrence,whentheywerealone,"there'sgoingtobetrouble.Thereisachiefherewho'sseenwhitemenbefore,andhe'slikelytostartsomething."

"That'stoobadfor'im,"wasthequietanswer.

"We'vegottobereadytooutwithim,"declaredKenneth."FromwhatI'veheardfromtheIndians,they'lltrytomakeusdosomething,andifthevisitingmedicinemancanduplicateit--well,we'llbedonefor.Ifhecan'tdoit,thenwewillbeallright.Thequestionthatwemustconsideris:Whatshallwedo?"

Therewassilenceforseveralminutes,andthenTinpotsventured:"'Ow

aboutthecoal?Youknowwhatweplanned;an'hitlookshaswemustusehitnow."

"Yes,"reluctantlyagreedLawrence."Iguessthat'saboutallwecando.Nowrememberwhatwearranged";andforhalfanhourtheydiscussedthedetailsoftheirpreparedplan.

Hardlyhadtheyconcludedrehearsingthedetailsoftheschemewhenthedoorwasrudelythrustopen,andthestrangechief,followedbyChiefQuelasandseveralofthevisitors,entered.

Tinpotsdidnotmove,butsatgazingattheglowingembersonthehearth,buttheboysbothsprangtotheirfeetandfacedtheintruders.

"Whatmeansthis,ChiefQuelas?"demandedLawrence,whowasfairlyproficientinthelanguageofthenatives."Whydoyoucomethisway?"

Thechiefhesitatedtoanswer,butthestrangersnortedincontemptandspatontheground.Withouthurry,Kennethbentdownandwithachipduguptheearthwherethehostilechiefhadspit,andhandedthechiptoTinpots.Thesailortosseditonthefire.Lawrence,whohadbeencloselywatchingthevisitor,noticedthathepaled,andwassatisfied,forheknewthattheactionhaddrivenfearintothesoulofthestranger.ItmeantthatTinpotswaspreparedtomakemedicineagainsttheinvader,andpunishhimwithfireforhisinsult.Itwasatthesametimeachallenge.

"Whatmeansthis,ChiefQuelas?"repeatedLawrence.

"Mybrother,ChiefKwalquem,"stammeredthechiefatlast,"saysthatyouarenotsupernaturalpeople;thatyoucometokillus;thatyoucomeinbigcanoes,andhavekilledmanyofhispeoplewithsmokeandfire.Hesaysyoushouldbekilled."

Theboyslaughedloudly;andwhileitwasmirthlessmerriment,theeffectwasnonethelessdiscomfitingtotheIndians.



Tinpotsdidnotmove,andhisverystolidityonlyincreasedtheuneasinessofChiefQuelas."Wotis'ea-sayin'?"heaskedatlastinadeepvoice,andheheldhishandsouttowardsthefire.

"They'renervousandafraid,"chantedLawrence,andthen,intheIndiantongue,"ChiefQuelas,wehavebeenwithyouformanymoons.Theleaveswereonthetreeswhenwecame,andnowthegroundiswhite.Youhavehadmuchfoodandnotroublewhilewehavebeenhere.Nowyoulistentothismanwhohasaneviltongue.

"Wedocomefromtheothersideoftheworld,whereourpeopleareasthestonesonthebeachfornumber.Ifwewerebadwecouldhavekilledyoulongago;butwewereyourfriends;youareourfriends.Nowwewillshowyouthatwehavethepoweroffire.YouhaveseenChiefShiningHeadmakefire;nowwewillshowthismanandhispeople.Ifheisnotafraid,andisnotlikeawoman,lethimdowhatChiefShiningHeadwilldo.Letallthepeoplecometothebighouse.Letthechiefsandthemedicinemenbethere.Letthembringtheirrattles,andwewillcome;andifthismanisachiefandnotlikeanoldwoman,hewilldowhatChiefShiningHeadwilldo,andnotbeafraid.Ihavespoken."

WithoutawordtheIndiansturnedandfiledoutofthehut.

Thethreefriendsweresilentforatime.Theylookedateachother,andthen,withalongintakingofbreath,Tinpotsexclaimedinahuskywhisper:"Hi'opes,youngsirs,asow'Hi'llbeabletodohit.Hihain'taprayin'man,butHiknowsas'owyoupraysatnight--well,now'sthetimetoprayyour'ardest."

Theboysbowedtheirheadsforamomentinsilence.ThenKennethextendedhishandtohischumandgaveitasqueeze,andbothshooktheknottedandgnarledhandsoftheoldsailor.

"Hit'sgoodas'owHi'asa'ard'and,"exclaimedTinpots,andthemomentofemotionbeingovertheysettowork.

"Mind,Larry,"cautionedKenneth,"we'veabigworktodo.Wehavetokeeptheattentionofeveryone,soTinpotscanmakethechange.Haveyouthewoodenwhistleyoumade?"

"Yes,hereitis."

"Haveyouthepowder-flaskthere,Tinpots?"

"Aye,aye,sir,"andheproducedit.

"Andthefourlittlepiecesofcoal?"

"Aye."

Lawrencebroughtouthispocket-handkerchief,whichhadbeenwashedandstowedawaywhentheschemewasfirstconcocted,andthisheproceededtotearintohalfadozensmallsquares.Intotwoofthemasmallquantityofgunpowderwaspoured,andthecornersweredrawnupandtied.TheseweregiventoTinpots,whileLawrencekepttheotherfragmentsofcloth.Kennethputthefoursmallpiecesofcoal,eachaboutthesizeofanut,intohispocket.

Afterdrawingthechargesfromtheirpistolsandreloadingthemthe



boyssecretedtheweaponsintheirclothing,and,thusprepared,thethreefriendssetout.

Astheysteppedoutintothenighttheycouldhearloudtalking,andthenoiseofdrumsandrattles,fromthebigceremonialhall,whichwasalreadywellfilledwiththevillagersandtheirfriends.

Agreatfireblazedinthecentreofthebigbuilding,andtheredglareoftheflamesandthewreathingsmokewovefantasticshadowsoverthesavagecrowd,andgaveanappearanceofanimationtothehideousfiguresonthecarvedcorner-posts,whichinthemovingtraceryoflightandshadeseemedtoadvanceandretreat;tobendforwardandbackward,openingandshuttingtheirhuge,gapingmouthsandstaringeyes.TheIndianswereseatedaboutthefoursidesofthebuilding.Themajorityofthemenwerenaked,orcoveredonlywithaloin-clothofanimalskin.Thewomenworeblanketsofcedar-barkdecoratedwithgrotesquepaintedfigures.Allwerearmedwithshorttruncheons,withwhichtheybeattimeonplankstothemonotonousdroningofabarbaricchant.AttheupperendofthehallsatChiefQuelas,withthelesserchiefsofhistribeandtheheadmenofthevisitingcontingent.

Astheyenteredtheplacetheboyssawfournakedfigureswearinghugewoodenmasksdancingaroundthefire.

"Hitsurelookslikethe'otplace,"criedTinpots,asheviewedthesavagescene.

"Allright,don'tbefrightened,"whisperedLawrencereassuringly."Comeon,"andheandKennethadvancedfourpaces,droppedtotheirkneesandwaiteduntiltheircompanioncameupwiththem,onlytoriseandadvanceanotherfourpacesandagainkneel.Inthisslowbutimpressivemannertheyencircledthefirefourtimes,knowingthatfourwasthemysticnumberofthenatives.HavingcompletedthelastcircuittheycametoahaltinfrontofChiefQuelasandthevisitingchief.

Tinpotsraisedhisrightarmslowly,andforafullminutepointedat

thefaceofthemanhehadchallenged.Everyeyewasfixeduponhimexceptthatofhisantagonist,whoavoidedhisgaze.

"Hi'ave'imscared--goaheadwithyourtalk,"announcedthesailorinadeepvoice.

Theboysbowed,andthenLawrence,speakingasifininterpretationofhischief'swords,cried,"ChiefQuelas,andallthepeople!ListentowhatthegreatChiefShiningHeadsays."

"Makeitthick,sir,"admonishedTinpotsinthesamemeasuredaccents.

"Hesaysthischiefhasspokenbadwords;hisheartisblack.Hewill

testhimwithfire.TheShiningHeadChiefwillmakestonesburn,andhewhoisburnedwhenhedoesitisbad.Ifthischiefisnotafraidhewillsayso.Ifhewillnotdothisthing,thenheisawomanandnotfittobewithmen."

ChiefKwalquemrose,hisfaceblackwithrageandhiseyesgleamingwithhate.Heburstintoatorrentofabuse,andlifteduphisspearasiftostrikedownthewhiteman.Tinpotsdidnotmove,butcontinuedtogazewithunblinkingeyesattheIndian.Theupliftedweaponwaslowered.



"Hif'etriesthatagain,shoot'im,"advisedthesailor.

"ChiefShiningHeadsaysthismanisafraid,"saidLawrencescornfully.

Angrydenialpouredfromthelipsofthechief.

"Bringfourlargewhitestonesandfourpiecesofhemlock,"saidLawrencequickly,beforetheIndianhadceasedspeaking,andatanodfromChiefQuelasyoungmenrantodohisbidding.Whentheywerebrought,theboystookapieceofhemlockineachhandandcarefullybrushedthegroundmidwaybetweenwherethechiefssatandthefire.Thefourwhitestonesweresetonthegroundthathadbeenswept,formingthecornersofasquarewithsidesofabouttwofeet,andthehemlockboughswereplacedbetweenthestones.Thefourpiecesofwhiteclothwerethenspreadwithinthesquare,andthefourbitsofcoalthatKennethhadbroughtwerehandedtoTinpots,whoplacedoneonthetopofeachwhitestone.Theneachonewaslifted,andwascarriedtoChiefQuelasforexaminationand,whentheywerereplaced,Tinpots,withastonehammer,commencedtopowderthem,kneelingwithhisbacktothechiefs.

"Now,"hewhispered,andwithayellbothboysstartedtojumpupanddown.Kennethblewashrillblastonhiswhistle,andLawrencestarted

toturncartwheelsaboutthefire.ThesurpriseoftheIndianswascomplete,andeveryonewatchedthelads,aswhistlingandcartwheelingtheyencircledtheblaze.

Whiletheboyswerethecentreofattractionandwerecompellingtheattentionofthenatives,Tinpotsquicklytransferredthecontentsofthetwolittlepacketsofpowdertothetopoftwoofthestones,andsecretedthepiecesofcoal.Whenhesignalledtotheboystheycametoahaltuponcompletingtheirfourthcircuit,andLawrencesteppedforward.

"YousawChiefShiningHeadbeatthestonesintosand,"hesaid."NowletthisstrangechiefdothesameasChiefShiningHead."

Tinpotsslowlyremovedthecoveringfromhisheadandadvancedtowardsthechief.Hehaltedandturnedtofacethecrowd,andheldouthishands,palmsupward.ChiefKwalquendidthesame.

Kennethwithatwigofhemlockbrushedthecoal-dustoffoneofthewhitestonestoapieceofcloth,andcarryingitforwarddepositeditinthepalmofTinpots'righthand.Thenthedustfromanotherstoneheplacedinhisleftpalm.

HenowrepeatedtheoperationbyfillingthepalmsoftheIndianchiefwithpowder.

Hebroughtthetwohandsclosetogether,andTinpotsinclinedhisheadoverhisextendedhands.Thesavagechieftaindidlikewise.

ChiefQuelascloselywatchedtheperformance."Areyousatisfiedtheyareboththesame?"Lawrenceaskedhim,pointingtowardsthetwomen.

Thechiefnoddedassent.

"Itiswell,"andhestoopeddown,andpickingupatwighethrustitintothefireandlightedit.ThishegavetoChiefQuelas,andtold



himtotouchtheblackpilethatTinpotswasholding.Thechiefblewonthelightedtwigtogiveitflame,andgingerlytouchedfirstonepalmandthentheother.Nothinghappened.

"Nowtouchtheblackstoneintheotherman'shands."

Quelasagainblewonthetwig,andtouchedtherightpalmofhisfriendlightly.Nothinghappened.Lawrencenearlyfainted."Nowtheotherone,"hemanagedtogasp.

Almostbeforehespoketheglowingpointwaspresseddownintothelittleblackpile.Therewasablindingflashandascreamofagony,andChiefKwalquemstaggeredbackandfelltotheground,howlingwithpain.

[Illustration:THETESTBYFIRE]

ForamomentnothingbuttheanguishoftheIndiancouldbeheard.Thenpandemoniumbrokeloose.Menandwomenstartedchatteringandshouting.Thosenearesttothewhitemenstartedawayfromtheminfright.

Lawrencesprangtotheplatformwherethechiefshadbeenseated,andcalledinaloudvoiceforsilence.Almostasifbymagicthetumult

ceased."ChiefQuelasandpeople,"heshouted."ThefirefromthestonehasshownthattheShiningHeadChiefisgood,andthatthewordsoftheotherchiefwerebad.Nowdonotletanyonesaybadwordsaboutus,ordobadthings,orfirewillburnthem.Wewilldonoharmtoourfriends.Ihavespoken."

SteppingdownfromtheplatformhesignalledtoKennethandTinpots,and,advancing,kneeling,risingandadvancingagain,theyquittedtheplaceastheyhadenteredit.

CHAPTERX

RESCUED

Wintergavewaytospring.Thesnowdisappearedfromthelowlands,andthestarkbrownuglinessofleaflesstreeswasrelievedbythetenderverdureofnewfoliagethatshowedinpleasantcontrastagainstthedarkerevergreenoftheforestgiants.WiththewarmerweathercamealsonewhopestothethreeunwillingguestsattheIndianvillage.

Themonthsthatfollowedthetrialbyfire,whenTinpotshadestablishedhissupremacy,hadnotbeenhappyonesforthem.Thenativeshadregardedthemwithfear,andmanywhohadformerlybeen

friendlydisposednowavoidedthem.Onlyoccasionallydidthesavagesbringthemfoodnow,andthenusuallyasanofferingtopropitiatetheirfavourortoseektheirservicesinworkingspellsagainstanenemy.

Fortunatelytheyhadaccumulatedastoreofprovisionsinthefirstfewmonthsoftheirstay,andwereabletoekeoutanexistence.TheirchiefmisfortunewasintheillnessofTinpots,whowasattackedbyrheumaticpainsinhislowerlimbs,andasaconsequencewascompelledtoremainwithinthehutforweeksatatime.Itwasnecessarytokeep



thisfactasecretfromthesavages,whowereconvincedofthesupernaturalcharacteroftheoldseaman.When,onrareoccasions,Indiansdidpaythemavisit,Tinpotssatinfrontofthefirewithacedar-barkblanketdrawncloselyabouthimandsaidnothing,whichmorethaneveraddedtohisfame.

Theboysspenthoursrubbinghislimbs,andeventuallythistreatmenthadabeneficialeffect,whichwasgreatlyassistedbytheuseofsteambaths,suchasthenativesemployed.Atrenchsixfeetinlengthandtwofeetdeepwasduginonecornerofthehut.Thiswaspartiallyfilledwithseaweed,andthenanumberofred-hotstoneswerethrownintoit.Morekelpwaspiledoverthestones,andwaterwaspouredoverthewholejustbeforethesickmanwasrolledinacedarblanketandplacedonthesteamingmass.Anotherblanketwasthenspreadovertherudebath-tub,leavingonlytheheadoftheinvalidexposed,andinthismannerhewasthoroughlysteamedforaquarterofanhour.Thistreatmentwasrepeatedtwiceaweek.

WiththelengtheningdaysTinpotsimproved,andwasnowabletogetaboutwithsomeofhisoldagility.

Themortalityinthevillagehadbeenheavyduringthelongwinter,manyoftheoldermenandwomenandnotafewofthechildrenpassingaway.Ofteninthenightcouldbeheardtheshoutingandmoaningof

sorrowingmenandwomen,orthebeatingofdrumsandthesoundofrattlesasmedicinemensoughtbyhideoussoundsandsavagecharmstodriveawaytheevilspiritofdisease.

"IwonderwhathappenedtothatIndianwhowasburned,"musedLawrenceoneday,astheboyspaddledtowardstheentranceofthebaytofishforcod.

"Helostoneeye,accordingtoChiefQuelas,"Kennethanswered,"andhevowedtoavengehimselfonthewholetribehere.NowthatspringhascomeIshouldn'tbesurprisedifhetriestodoit.TheseIndiansusuallyattackatnight,whentheirvictimsareasleep,andyoucandependonitthatiftheycome,they'llmakeforourplacefirst."

"Yes,Ibelieveyou'reright,Ken,andIthinkweshouldpreparetoreceivethem."

Thateveningtheydiscussedthepossibilityofattack,anddecidedthatastrictwatchshouldbemaintained.Tinpotsvolunteeredtostayawakeatnightswhiletheothersslept,andsoitwasarranged:thesailorkeptguardduringthenightandrestedinthedaytime,whentherewasbutlittleprobabilityofattack.

"Ithink,"advisedKenneth,afterthisarrangementhadbeenineffectforaweek,"thatweshoulddosomethingmorethanjustkeepwatch,Larry.Iftheycometheywillsendascoutaheadtopeerintothehut,

andiftheyseeTinpotssittingup,they'llprobablywaituntiltheycanstrikeusfromambush."

"You'reright.Letusbuildaplatformofsomesortabovethedoorwherewecansleep,andfixupdummiesthatapersonwouldmistakeforus,andlaythemnearthefire."

Theplanwasputintoexecution,andastoutplatformwaserectedabovethedoor,whilethreelogswerewrappedinblanketsandplacedinfrontofthefire-placeeachnight.



Nothinghappenedfornearlyamonth,andthen,onemoonlessnight,thequickearofthesailorcaughtaslightrustlingoutsideofthehut.CautiouslyheawakenedLawrence,whointurnarousedhischum.Eachpickeduptheweaponthatlaybesidehim,andwaited.

Slowlythedoorwaspushedopen,andtheycouldmakeoutadarkformwrigglingacrosstheearthenfloortowardsthemotionlessformsbeneaththeblankets.Another,andthentwomore,appeared.

LawrencetouchedKennethontheknee,andeachraisedhispistolandcoveredoneofthestealthyfigures.Tinpotsalreadywasaimingattheforemostsavage.Withayellthenativeraisedhimselftoplungehisknifeintotheforminfrontofhim.Thecrywasthebattle-callofhistribe,andhisowndeath-knell,forashelungedtherewasaroarandaflash.Tinpotsfired,andtheIndiancrumpledandpitchedforward.Twomoreflashes,asthepistolsweredischarged,andasecondIndianfell,withtwobulletsinhim,fortheboyshadbothtakenaimatthesameman.Theothersfledinterrorfromthehut.

Droppingtothegroundthethreefriendsthrewdriedtwigsonthefire,andbytheblazereloadedtheirweaponsandmadeoutintothenight,whichwasnowhideouswiththecriesofconflict.

"Makeforthewaterandheadthemoff,"shoutedLawrence;andtheystumbledovertherockybeachtowheretheyknewtheenemycanoesmustbedrawnup.

"Look,"hecried,amomentlater,"there'soneoftheircanoesjustputtingoff."

"Hi'llputa'oleinhit,"answeredTinpots;anddroppingtoonekneehetookaimatthedarkobjectthatshowedfaintlyagainstthewatersofthebay.Theflashofhismusketwasansweredwithashowerofarrows.

Theboysbothfired,andagaintheflasheswerethesignalsforthe

nativebowmen.

WithacryLawrencestaggeredandfell.

"Larry,Larry,what'sthematter?"criedKenneth,whowasfumblingwithhispowder-horninanefforttoreloadhispistol."Larry,whereareyou?"

"Here;andI'mhit.Nothingserious--inthefleshypartofthelegabovetheknee";andhegroanedwiththepain.

"Tinpots!"almostshriekedKenneth."Quick;Larry'shit."

"Aye,aye,sir,"wasthecoolreply."Justamomentsir,"andhefiredthemuskethehadsucceededinloadinginthedarknessatafigurethatshowedforaninstantafewpacesinfrontofhim.Withasatisfiedgruntheturned."Higot'im;an'where'sMr.Larry,sir?Oh,thereyoube--allright.Lift'imcarefulnow.That'shit--easyaway";andbetweenthemtheycarriedLawrencetothehut.

Pilingfreshfuelonthefire,Kennethmadeahastyexaminationofthewoundbythelightoftheflames.Thearrowwasstilllodgedintheflesh.



"Tinpots,getthosedeadIndiansoutoftheway,andgetsomefreshwater,"heordered.

"Aye,aye,sir."

Hegentlypulledatthearrowshaft.Lawrencegroaned."Sorry,oldman,butit'sgottocomeout.It'snotabadwound,butthebarbhascaughtandit'sgoingtohurtsome.Imayhavetocutitout,forit'sinprettydeep."

Tinpotsreturnedwiththewater,anditwassoonbroughttoaboil.

"Here,Tinpots,givemeyourknife,"saidKenneth,andhesharpenedthebladeonastone,andthenthrustitintothescaldingwater."Thatwillcleanitallright.Nowsomeofthatsoftmoss."

"'E'sfainted!"exclaimedthesailorinawhisper,asKennethcutawaytheclothingfromaboutthewound.

"Good;hewon'tfeelthepainofthis";andwithaquickincisionhefreedthearrow--alongsaw-toothedweaponofbone."Nowthehotwater.That'sit,fine;thatwillcleanitoutnicely:nowthemoss";andhemadeasoftpackofthestuffandboundittightlyuponthe

woundwithastriptornfromhisownshirt.

"There,there,Larry,oldman,"hesaidtenderly,asLawrenceopenedhiseyes."You'reallrightnow;here,drinkthis";andhehandedhimabowlofwater.

"DidIfaint?"askedLawrenceweakly.

"Justforaminute.Youlostalotofblood;butyou'refinenow."

"I'mashamedofmyself.I--I--shouldn'thavedonethat."

"Youcouldn'thelpit.Weknowyoutoowelltothinkitwasfromany

othercausethanlossofblood;buthowareyoufeelingnow?"

"Easier,thanks."

"Isthereanythingyouwant?"

"Yes.Iwishyouwouldgoandfindouthowthefightwent."

"Allright";andawayhewent,toreturnintwentyminutes.

"Theywerebadlybeaten.Ourshotsalarmedthevillage,andQuelasandhismenwereabletobeatthemoffwiththelossofbutoneoldmanandachildkilledandawomanwounded.Sofarthey'vefoundthebodiesof

fouroftheenemy,andanotherwhowaswoundedwasaddedtothedead;thentherearethetwothatweaccountedfor:sothatmeansthatKwalquemlostatleastsevenofhismen."

AssoonasitwasdaylightKennethagaindressedthewound,anddrewtheedgesofthecuttogether.ScarcelyhadhefinishedthetaskthanChiefQuelasandseveralofhisprincipalmenarrived,bringingwiththemawomanwhowaswellversedintherudesurgeryofthesavages.ShetookchargeofLawrence.



Thechiefwasinhighgoodhumour,andwasparticularlydelightedatthepartthatthewhitemenhadplayed,givingthemcreditforhavingarousedthevillage.Hewasverycuriousastothemeansbywhichtheyhaddefendedthemselves.

"Wemadethunderandlightning,"Kennethexplained."ChiefShiningHeaddestroyedthemwithfire."HemotionedtoTinpotstobringhismusketoutside.

"Thegreatwhitechiefwillshowyou,"hewenton,"howhepointedhisfire-stickatthemandkilledthem."

Abasketwasplacedonanear-bylogand,raisinghisgun,Tinpotsfired,knockingthetargetfromitsperch,andbadlyfrighteningtheIndians.

"Nowgoandpickupthebasket,"orderedKenneth;andthechiefhimselfobeyed,onlytoutteranexclamationofwonderwhenhesawtheholemadebythebullet.

"Now,chief,"Kennethsaid,"youseehowChiefShiningHeaddestroyshisenemies.Heisthechiefoffireandthunder,buthedoesnothurthisfriends;andyouandyourpeoplearehisfriends."

GreatwastheaweandrespectoftheIndiansforTinpotsafterthisfurtherdemonstrationofhispower.Theyfearedthathemightatanymomentturnuponthemandconsumethemwithfire.Theywereafraidtohavehimstaylongerwiththem,andyetwerefearfulthathemightdiscoverthattheywantedtoberidofhim.Buttheynowsuppliedtheirguestswithanabundanceoffood,andwerereadytodothebiddingofthewhitemenatalltimes.

TheoldIndianwomanprovedtobeskilfulindeedinthetreatmentofLawrence'swound,andunderherconstantcareandthatofhiscompanionsherapidlyimproved,andinalittlemorethantwoweekswasabletowalkwiththeaidofacrutchfashionedfromtheforkofasmalltree.Itwassoonafterhewasabletobeaboutthathebroached

thesubjectofdeparturetoChiefQuelas.

"Chief,"hesaid,"youdonotwantushere."

TheIndiangaveastartandmurmuredaprotest.

"No,Chief,weknow.Wearenotangry,andwearepleasedwithwhatyouhavedoneforus.Maybebeforelongabigcanoe--withgreatwhitewings--willcometolookforus.Ifitdon'tcome,wewantyoutotakeustolookforit."

TheIndiandidnotmakeanswer.Lawrencewaited,knowingwhatwaspassinginhismind."No,Chief,"hesaidatlast,"noharmwillcome

toyou,butgreatgood.ChiefShiningHeadwillgiveyouafire-stickwhenyoudothis,andwillshowyouhowtouseit."

QuelaslookedsearchinglyatLawrenceforamoment,andthennodded,"Yes,Quelaswilldoit."

KennethwasgreatlyexcitedwhenLawrencerelatedtheconversationtohisfriends,butTinpots,tothesurpriseoftheboys,didnotappeartobeenthusiasticattheprospectofanearlydeliverance.



"Butdon'tyouwanttogetbacktocivilisation?"demandedKenneth.

"Well,HisupposeHidoes----"wasthehesitatinganswer."But'ereHi'magod,agreatchief,an'backaboardshipHi'mjustTinpots.Hit'sTinpotsdothis;Tinpotsdothat;an''ereHidon'tdoanything."

"Whatdoyouknowaboutthat!"andLawrencelookedinopen-mouthedamazementattheoldmanandthenathischum."Tinpots,you'reastubbornolddonkey."

"HiguessHiham,"hegrumbled."Besides,hitwouldn'tbethesamewithyougentlemengone.Butwhat'sthechancesofgettingaway?"

"Well,it'sgettingalongtowardssummernow--itmustbeclosetothefirstofJune--andthetrading-shipswillbeonthecoast.Itwillbestrangeifoneofthemdoesn'tcomethiswaysoonerorlater.AfterwhatIsaidtoQuelashewillbeonthewatchforthem,andifsomeofthedistanttribeshearofthemtheywillsendhimword.It'sgenerallyknownallalongthecoastthatwearehere,andsurelytheIndianswilltellthetraders.Ifnothingturnsupinamonthorsixweekswewillgetthechieftotakeustothenorthward."

Thethoughtofgettingawaywasnowuppermostintheboys'minds,andtheymaintainedawatchofthehorizonfromthepointattheentrance

ofthebayfromearlymorninguntildark.Eachdaybroughtafreshhope,andeachnightregisteredanotherdisappointment,andthenotchesthatwerecuteacheveninginthedoorpostincreasedinnumberuntiltheytotalledmorethanforty.

Then,lateoneafternoon,acanoethathadbeenonavisitattheNahwittitribe,distantaboutfortymiles,returnedhastily,withthenewsthatagreatwingedcanoe,suchasLawrencehaddescribed,hadbeenseenthepreviousday.

Quelashastenedtotheboyswiththeintelligence;and,truetohispromise,hesaidhewaspreparedtostartwiththemimmediatelyinsearchofthevessel.Twohourslatertheytooktheirplacesinthe

largestofthewarcanoes,andbadeadieutothenatives,whocrowdeddowntothewater'sedgetoseethemoff.

AlumproseinLawrence'sthroatashewavedtoagroupofwomenwhowereblowingtheeagledownofpeaceandgoodwilltowardsthem."Youknow,Ken,"hestammered,"they're--they'remightyfinepeople.Theymaybesavages,butthey'vebeengoodtousintheirway."

"Theycertainlyhave."

Tinpotsonlysighedandlookedstraightahead."Theywouldn't'avetreatedCaptainCook'imselfbetter,"hemutteredatlast.

Forseveralhoursthecanoespedthroughwatersthatwerehardlyruffledbywind,andthen,darknessdescending,alandingwasmadeandtheylaydowntorest.Atdaybreakthejourneywasresumed,andcontinuedagainstafresheningbreezeforthreehours,whenanotherhaltwasorderedatasmallisland.

Lawrence,whostillfelttheeffectsofhiswound,remainedinthecanoe,buthiscompanionslanded,andKennethclamberedtothehighestpointoflandandclimbedatree.Hardlyhadhereachedapositioninthebranchesfromwhichhecouldseeacrosstheislandthanhegavea



shout:"Tinpots--Larry--Asail,asail!"

"Whereaway?"

"Nor'-nor'-east--fourleagues."

"Aye,aye,sir,"andtheoldsailorstartedasfastashecouldthroughtheunderbrushandoverwindfallsforthecanoe.

"Asail,asail,"hecalled;"asail,sir."

"Where?"excitedlydemandedLawrence.

"Nor'-nor'-east,Mr.Kennethmadeitout,sir."

Kennethfollowedafewmomentslater.Thecrewwasalreadyawaitinghisarrival,foronhearingthenewsLawrencehadcalledtoQuelasandhismen.

Roundingtheislandthedugoutheadedintotheteethofafreshsea.Spraybrokeovertheupturnedbowasthecanoeroseandfell.TheIndianspaddledwithalltheirstrength,anddespitewindandwavesmadegoodprogress.Theboysstrainedtheireyestocatchasightofthevessel.

"Thatbethemainlandoverthere,"venturedTinpots."An',withthiswind,she'llbecomin'aroundthiswayaforelong,unlessshebetackin'upthecoastfromus."

Theoldman'sconjecturewascorrect,foranhourlaterLawrencecried,"Theresheis--asloop."

Kennethtoreoffhistatteredcoatandhoisteditaloftonafishspear.Thenativesrenewedtheirefforts.Thesloopwascomingtowardsthem.Nowthedistancebetweenthemwasbutlittlemorethanaleague.Thentheshipveeredroundonatackthatwouldtakeheroutintotheopensea.

Theboysgroaneddejectedly.Itlookedasiftheyweretobepassedby.Quelas,whowassteering,quicktoappreciatethemeaningofthemovement,swungthecanoeroundandheadedforthedistantpromontory."Makethunder,"hesaid.

"Yes,Tinpots,"criedKenneth,"loadyourmusket."

Withdifficultythesailormanagedtodoso,puttinginanextraheavycharge.Quelasshoutedanordertohismen.Themusketwasraisedabovetheirheads,andwasdischargedwithaterrificnoise.TherecoilwassuchastoupsetTinpots,wholosthishold,andthegunfellwithasplashintothesea.

Anxiouslytheboyswatchedthesloop.Shecontinuedonhercourse.Theywereindespair;andthenherheadcameround."Hurrah,they'veseenus--we'resaved,"andtearsofjoyfilledLawrence'seyes.Kennethsaidnothing,butreachedoutandsqueezedhischumbythehand.

Rapidlynowthedistancebetweenthevesselandthecanoelessened."She'sawarboat,"assertedTinpots;"see'owmanyportsshe'as--an'she'sBritish."



Inlessthanhalfanhourtheywerealongside,andafewmomentslaterwereonthedeckofthesloop,tobegreetedbyanofficerintheundressuniformofalieutenant."Whoareyou?"hedemanded.

"We'reoffthebrigantine_Hope_,ofBoston,andhavebeenlivingwithatribeofIndiansforayear,sir,"answeredKenneth."WewerepickedupbythenativesoffQueenCharlotteIslands.Andtowhomareweindebted?"heasked.

"Thisisthe_Jackall_,ofLondon,AlexanderStewartcommander.Iamthefirstofficer."

"Pray,sir,"interruptedLawrence,"maywebegfromyousomethingwithwhichtorewardtheseIndians,whohavebroughtusfullytwelveleagues.Wewillthenbepleasedtotellourstory."

Quelaswasshownanassortmentoftradegoods,andfromthesemadeaselectionthathighlygratifiedhim.Herefusedagun,however,sayingthathemightdestroyhisownpeoplewithathunderstick.

Hepartedfromhisguestsinamostcasualmanner,butitwaswithsomefeelingofregretandasenseofgratitudethattheysawhimgo.

"Amightyfinesavage'eis,"commentedTinpots,asthecanoeheaded

backtothevillage.

CHAPTERXI

ANUNEXPECTEDMESSAGE

"Followme,"saidtheofficer,andheledtheboysandTinpotstothecaptain'scabin.

CaptainStewartwasatypicalBritishnavalofficer,sternandreserved

inthepresenceofstrangers.Helookedsearchinglyatthethreeforamomentbeforespeaking;anditwasevidentfromhisexpressionthathewasnotimpressedwithwhathesaw,for,asLawrencelaterremarkedtohischum,theywerenotverypresentable.Tinpotshadgrownalonggreybeardduringtheircaptivity,whichhehadattemptedtoshortenfromtimetotimewithhissheathknife.Hisfeetwerebare,andhisprincipalarticleofclothingwasanotter-skincloakwhichhadbeengiventohimbyChiefQuelas.

Kennethwasthebestdressed,forhiscoatwasfairlyintact,buthishairwaslong,andhewaswithoutashirt,whilehistrouserswerepatchedwithhisstockings,andhisbarefeetwerethrustintobrokenshoes.Lawrence,whowalkedwiththeaidofastoutstick,boasteda

tatteredcoatandanequallydilapidatedshirt.Inplaceoftrousersheworeakiltthathadformerlybeenacedar-barkcape.Hehadneithershoesnorstockings.

"Well,"demandedthecaptain,whowascorrectlyattiredintheundressuniformofanavallieutenant,"wheredoyoucomefrom?"

"WeweretakenbytheIndianslastyear,sir,"answeredKenneth,"andhavebeenheldbythemeversince.Mr.DrakeandIwerejuniorofficersonthebrigantine_Hope_,ofBoston,CaptainJosephIngraham,



andPottswasaseamanonthesamevessel.WewereonthepointofleavingthecoastforChinawhenthethreeofuswerecaughtinafoginasmallboat,andwerecapturedbyawarpartyofIndians."

"Youmaybetellingthetruth,"saidthecaptain;"thatyouhavebeenlivingamongIndiansisobvious;butcandidlyIamdoubtfulofthebalanceofyourtale,"headded;andturningtowardshisfirstofficer,"Mr.James,havetheseamanshowntothefo'c'sleandgivehimsomeclothesfromtheslop-chest.Iwanttoquestionthesemenfurther."

Tinpots,whohadbeenstandingatattention,saluted,andturnedtofollowtheofficerfromthecabin.Therewassomethinginhismannerthatarrestedtheattentionofthecommander."Stay,"heexclaimed."WereyoueverintheBritishNavy?"

"Yes,sir.HiwaswithCaptainCook,sir--andothers."

"Oh,youwere,eh?"

TheoldsailorhadbeencloselystudyingthefaceofCaptainStewart,andhadbeensearchinghismemorytorecallwherehehadseenthatofficerbefore;nowheremembered."Yes,sir,"heproudlyanswered,"andIwaswithyou,sir,whenyouwasamidshipmanonthe_Spry_ontheWestIndiesstation."

"What!"almostshoutedthecaptain."You'renotthePottswhowasbos'n'smate,andsavedmylifewhenwetookthatFrenchprivateer?"

"Hidid'elpyouabit,sir,thattimewecapturedthe_JeanneMarie_."

Thestiffnessandformalityofthecaptainwasdroppedinaninstant,andhesprangtograsptheoldsailorbythehand."Forgiveme,"hesaid;"andtothinkthatIshouldnothaverecognisedyou!Well,well!Sitdown,gentlemen,sitdown.Prayforgivemefordoubtingyou."

"Certainly,sir;andwedon'tblameyou,"saidLawrence.

"Mr.James,"wentonCaptainStewart,"thesegentlemenandmygoodfriendPottswillremainhere.Havesuitableclothessenttothem."

"Andwhathappenedtoyou--wheredidyougo?"hedemanded,addressingTinpots.

"Higotprettybad'it,sir,justafterourfellowsgottoyou.Iwassentto'ospitalatJamaica,andwassentback'ome,whereHiwasdraftedintoCaptainCook'screw.Afterthecaptainwaskilled,an'wegot'omeag'in,Hiwasdischargedandwentintomerchantmen,sir."

"Thisman,"exclaimedCaptainStewart,"savedmylife.WehadgainedthedeckoftheFrenchmanandwerehardpressed.Ourladswerecarried

backabit,andIwasknockedover.AFrenchywasgoingtofinishmeoffwithapikewhenPottscametomyrescueandcuthimdownandstoodovermeuntilourfellowsclearedthedeckandrescuedme.I'veneverseenhimsince;andtothinkIshouldmeethimawayouthere.Well,well!"

Whiletheyweretalkingclothinghadbeenbrought;andwhentheywereproperlyattiredoncemoreincivilisedcostume,theyfoundfoodawaitingthem.



"Come,"invitedthecaptain,"Ifancyyouarereadytoeat."

Whilethefarecouldnotbecalledelegant,theboysthoughtthattheyhadnevertastedabettermeal;andwhenatlasttheirappetiteshadbeensatisfied,Lawrencesmiledbroadly."BeggingCaptainStewart'spardon,"hesaid,"IneverthoughtthatIwouldrelishsaltboiledbeefasIhaveatthismeal."

"Andnow,"remarkedthecaptain,"Iwouldliketohearyourstory."AndforthenexthourtheboysrelatedtheiradventuresamongtheIndians.Whentheyhadconcludedtherecital,theirhostexclaimed:"Youcertainlydidhaveanadventuroustime,andyoumustbequick-wittedindeedtohavethoughtofmakingagodoutofPotts";andhechuckledattheidea.

"Iwouldliketohaveyouwithme,"headded,"butIsupposeyouareanxioustofindyourship.Icameoutincompanywith,andundertheordersof,CaptainBrownofthe_Butterworth_.WhilethisisatradingventurefinancedbyLondonmerchants,weareoperatingunderRoyalCharter,andarechargedwiththedutyofestablishingasettlementonthecoast,inhisMajesty'sname,ifopportunityoffers.JustwhetherornotthiswillbedonedependsupontheoutcomeofthenegotiationsbetweenCaptainVancouverandtherepresentativeofSpain,whoisatNootkanow,waitingtohandovertheterritorythatwastakenfrom

Meares."

"IsCaptainVancouver'imaswasmidshipmanwithCaptainCook?"questionedTinpots.

"Thesame.Heisincommandofthe_Discovery_,andhasthe_Chatham_ withhim.HeisexploringthewatersthatleadfromDeFuca'sStraits,andasthereisastoryamongtheIndiansthattheendofthatchannelopensouthere,wehavebeenwaitingforhimhere.CaptainBrowncarriesdispatchesforhim."

"Butwhatareallthesenegotiations?"askedLawrence."WhenwewereattheSandwichIslandsweheardthattherehadbeentrouble,and

CaptainIngrahamwasatNootkainthe_Columbia_whenMeares'sshipswereseized;butweneverheardwhattheoutcomeofitallwas,orwhathappenedwhenEnglandheardofit."

"Therewasnearlywar.MearessentamemorialtoParliament,andwhenitwasreadtherewasgreatexcitement.Thewholenationwasinafurorovertheinsultthathadbeenofferedtotheflag,andtheGovernmentdemandedanimmediateapologyandalargeindemnityfromSpain,aswellasthereturnofthelandsclaimedbyMeares.

"Spainwasinclinedtobehaughty,andatfirstrefusedtomakeamends,andbothnationspreparedforwar.TheSpaniardsweredependingontheircompactwithFrance,buttheFrenchkingwashavingtoomuch

troubleathomewithhisownsubjectstothinkofengaginginaforeignwaroversomethingthatwasnoconcernofhis,justtopleaseSpain.Whenherefusedtoentertaintheidea,andwouldnotcometotheaidoftheKingofSpain,thedonscapitulated,andthewholeaffairwassettledwithoutbloodshed.ItwasagreedthatcommissionersweretobesentfromEnglandandSpaintoNootka,wherethelandswouldberestoredandtheconventionwouldbeformallyratified.

"CaptainVancouveristoactforGreatBritain,andSeñorJuanFranciscodelaBodegayQuadraistorepresentSpain.Heiswaiting



atNootkanowforCaptainVancouver,whowasalsoinstructedtoexaminethecoast,andthisheisdoingbeforecarryingoutthemoreformalpartofhiscommission."

"Didn'tHitellyou,sirs,"explodedTinpots,"asthere'dbetroubleaboutwhatthemdonsdidtoourpeople?"

"Youassuredlydid,"answeredKenneth.

"Andnowaboutyourselves,"saidCaptainStewart."IcantakeyoualongwithmewhenIreturntoNootka;butIcan'tsayjustwhenthatwillbe.Theportiscrowdedwithshippingandtherearenofursinthatlocality.YousaythatitwasIngraham'sintentiontoreturnthissummertotheQueenCharlottes.Well,it'sthefifteenthofJulynow,andwearenotfarofftheislands,sowewillrunupthatwayandseeifanythinghasbeenheardofthe_Hope_.No,no,"hehastenedtoadd,whentheboyswouldhaveexpressedtheirappreciation."No;mychancesofgettingfursarejustasgoodthereasalongthispart;anditwasmyintentiontogothereinafewdays.Besides,iffornothingelse,IwouldliketofeelthatIamdoingsomethingtorepaythedebtIowetoourgoodfriendPotts."

Orderswereissuedimmediately,andthecoursewassetfortheislands;andlatethatsameafternoonthe_Jackall_passedCapeSt.James,and

justbeforedarknesshovetoinasmallcoveforthenight.

Thedaypassedpleasantlyindeedforthethreefriends.Theywereanxioustolearnthenewsoftheoutsideworld,andthoseonboardthesloopwereinterestedintheiradventures.Theirstayonthe_Jackall_ wastobeveryshort,though,forearlynextmorningabrigantinewassightedheadingsouth,andsignalsweremadeforhertoapproach.Whenthreeorfourmilesdistantthechiefofficerwentoutinthelongboattoboardherandaskforinformationaboutthe_Hope_.

ThenoiseoftheloweringoftheboatandthecreakingoftheoarsagainsttherowlocksasitpassedaftawakenedKenneth,andhewassoonondeck.

"Whereistheboatawayto?"heasked.

"Toboardthatbrig,"answeredasailor.

Helookedinthedirectionindicatedbytheman,andsawasmallbrigantine.Hecaughthisbreath.No,surelyitcouldnotbe!Hehurriedtowherethesecondofficerwasviewingthestrangerthroughhisglass,andventured,"MightItakealookather?Ithinkitisthe_Hope_."

"Certainly";andtheglasswashandedover.

"It'sher,"heexclaimedexcitedly,whenhehadlooked;andhandingbackthetelescopehehurriedtoawakenLawrenceandTinpots,whoweresoonondeck,wherethecaptainjoinedthemafewmomentslater.

"Ah,Mr.Jameshasboardedher,"observedCaptainStewart,"andtheyarebreakingoutaprivatesignal.Doyourecogniseit?"

"Yes,sir,"repliedKenneth,lookingthroughtheglassthatthecaptainhandedhim."It'sthe_Hope_,andnomistake."



"Youwillnotwanttoloseanytimeinjoiningyourfriends,"suggestedCaptainStewart,"soIthinkwehadbettergoaboardherinthesmallboat,"andheorderedittobelowered.Intothistheypiled;andwithKennethandTinpotsassistingattheoarstheyweresoonunderway.

Astheyapproachedthe_Hope_theyweregreetedwithcheers,thewholecrewhavinggatheredtowelcomethem,andastheyreachedthedecktheyweresurroundedbytheirfriends.

"We'vecomeaboard,sir,"saidKennethsimply,asCaptainIngrahamseizedhimbythehand.

"Andit'stimeyoudid,"exclaimedthecaptaindelightedly."Where'sDrake?Ah,thereyouare;butwhat'sthematter?"

"Afleshwoundintheleg,butit'snearlywellnow."

"Ah,andhere'sPotts.Delightedtoseeyou."

"PermitmetopresentCaptainStewart,whorescuedus";andLawrenceintroducedthemasterofthe_Jackall_.

"Pleased,verypleased;andathousandthanks;butcomeintothecabin.Potts,Iknowyouwanttogowithyourmessmatestotellthemofyour

adventures,"andCaptainIngrahamledthewaytothecabin.

"Butwhere'sMr.Crafts?"Lawrenceasked,asthefirstofficercameforwardtogreethim.

"PoorCraftshasgone."

"What?"

"Yes,hediedshortlyafterweleftthecoastlastyear,andweburiedhimatsea."

Thisintelligence,thoughhardlyunexpected,grievedtheboysdeeply,

fortheyboththoughtagreatdealofthesecondofficer.

Forthenexttwohourstheywerekeptbusyrelatingtheirexperiencesamongthenatives;andwhentheyhadoutlinedallthathadhappenedtothem,Lawrenceaskedwhathadtakenplaceduringtheirabsence.

"Whenyoudidnotreturn,"explainedthecaptain,"wesearchedforyoueverywhere,andofferedtheIndiansrewardsforinformationaboutyou.Twodayslatertheybroughtinyourboat.Atfirstwethoughtyouhadbeenmurdered,butwhenwefoundthatyourweaponsandfishing-linesweregone,weconcludedthatyoumightpossiblyhaveescaped,andwemaintainedthatbeliefallthewaythrough,althoughImustconfessthatwhenwefoundonourreturnthatnothinghadbeenheardofyouby

Kow,weweredisappointedindeed."

"IhopeyoudidnotwritehometomypeoplesayingIwasmissing,"interjectedLawrence.

"No.Mr.CruftandItalkedthematterover,anddecidedtosaynothingaboutyourabsenceuntilafterthisvoyage.Butthatremindsme,Ihavelettersforbothofyou."

Whilehewassearchingthroughhisdispatch-boxfortheletters,the



captainwentontoexplainthatuponleavingthecoastthe_Hope_hadsailedfortheSandwichIslands,fromwhence,afterwoodingandwatering,sailhadbeenmadetoChina.ConsiderabledifficultyhadbeenencounteredatMacaoindisposingofthecargooffurs.ChineseofficialsandEuropeanagentshaddemandedexcessivefeesfortheirservices,andeventuallythepeltshadtobesoldatpricesfarbelowthosewhichithadbeenexpectedtheywouldbring.

AfterCaptainStewarthadtakenhisdeparture,andthe_Hope_wasoncemoreunderway,theboyshadanopportunityofreadingtheirmail.Kenneth'sletterswerefromhispeopleathome,andtheircontentsdelightedhim.Lawrencecouldnotconceivewhowouldwritetohim,andforalongtimehesatlookingattheenvelopewithoutopeningit.Atlasthischumlookedup,andseeingthepuzzledexpressiononhisfaceasked,"What'sthematter,Larry?"

"Iwaswonderingwhothiscouldbefrom."

"Well,whydon'tyouopenitandfindout?"

"Ididn'tthinkofthat,"hestammered,andtoreopentheenvelope,onlytogiveanexclamationofsurprisewhenhenotedthesignature.

"What'sthematter,Larry?"

"Thisletter--it'sfrom--you'dneverguess."

"OfcourseIwouldn't."

"Well,it'sfrommyuncle,Tobias."

"Whatdoeshesay?"

"Idon'tknow.I'llreadittoyou,ifyouarethroughwithyourletter."

"Yes,goahead."

"Allright,"respondedLawrence,andhereadaloud:

"DEARNEPHEW,--IhavelearnedofthysailingwithCaptainJosephIngraham.Ihavealsolearnedfromletterssenttothisplacebythatgentlemanthatheispleasedwiththee,andthatthouhastconductedthyselfwell.Iampleased.

"Iamanoldman,nephew,andhavebeenalonemanyyears;thereforedonotdealharshlyinthyopinionofme.Ourmeetingwasnotapleasantone,andIwouldthatIhadspokenthatwhichwasinmyheartinsteadofthatwhichbitternessofmemoryforcedtomytongue,whichhas

alwaysbeenanunrulymember.

"Ilovedthyfather,butweletmattersofpoliticscomebetweenus,andhecuthimselfofffromme,andIknewnotwhitherhehadgone,andgrewoldinthehopethatonedayhewouldreturnandtakeagainhisoldplace.

"Thenthoucamest,andIlearnedthathewasdead.Myhopesperishedwiththymessage.InmybitternessandwoeIsaidthatwhichIshouldnothavesaid.



"Iamoldandmydaysmaybefew.Thouartmyonlykin,andIwouldnotliketogotothegraveestrangedfromthee.Iaskthyforgiveness.

"ThyUncle,"TOBIASDRAKE."

"Poorolduncle--pooroldman,"wasallthatLawrencesaidwhenhefinished,andthereweretearsinhiseyes.

CHAPTERXII

TREACHEROUSNATIVES

The_Hope_cruisedabouttheislandsforanotherweek,goingfromvillagetovillage,pickingupafewpeltsofindifferentquality.ThecompetitionforfurshadbecomesokeenthattheIndianshadnoopportunityofcollectingthelargestoresofotterskinsthattheyhadwhenthefirsttraderscameamongthem.Norweretheyaseagerasformerlytobarterthemfortrinketswiththeopeningoftheseason,

knowingfullwellthatothershipswouldfollow.

"I'mgettingtiredofhagglingwiththeseIndians,"exclaimedCaptainIngrahamoneevening,afteradayofbutlittleprofit."Ithinkwe'lltryourlucktothesouthward;notthatIexpectitwillbeanybetter,butIwanttofindwhatisgoingonatNootka,andasitisthecentreoftradeinthatquarterwewillbeabletofindoutwhatpricesarebeingofferedforfurs."

Soon23Julythe_Hope_lefttheislandsandheadedinthedirectionofNootkaSound,onlytoencounterboisterousweather,whichnecessitatedstandingwellouttoseawithtop-gallantmastsstruckandtopsailsfurled,andwithgunsstowedbelowandhatchesbatteneddown.

Afterseveraldaysofpitchingandtossingthestormabated,andthebrigheadedbacktowardsthecoastunderfullsail.

"IthinkweshouldtryalittletradingbeforelookinginatNootka,"advisedMr.Cruft,asthemountainousshoresweresighted.

"Thatisasensiblesuggestion,"agreedthecaptain,"astheymaywantustogiveaguaranteethatwewillnottradeanymorewiththeIndiansaboutNootka.Thereisaharbourahead,andIthinkthatMr.Burbankhadbettergoaheadandinvestigateit.HehadbettertakeDrakewithhim,andastheyknowIndiancharactertheywillbeabletogleananyinformationthatthenativesmaybepossessedof,orfindifthereisanypossibilityoftrade."

Sincetheirreturntothe_Hope_Kennethwasoncemoreplacedonthequarter-deckassecondofficer,whileLawrence,whileratedasanapprentice,inrealityoccupiedapositionofequalimportance.

Theboatwasgotready,andwhenthebrigantinehadapproachedtowithinamileoftheopeningshewaslaunched,andmannedwithawell-armedcrew.Itwaslateintheafternoonwhentheystarted,anditwasdarkbeforetheyhadcompletedtheirexplorationoftheharbour.Whileabaywithintheentrancewasnotallthatcouldbedesired,it



wouldprovideshelterforthenight,andsotheyfiredsignalsforthebrigtoapproach,andguidedhertoanchorage.

Thefollowingmorningtheywereagainoutearly,andexploredtheharbourfarther,findinggoodanchoragenearasmallcreekwherefreshwatercouldbesecured.

Indiansweresoonswarmingaboutthevessel,manifestingineverypossiblewaytheirfriendship.Theharbour,theysaid,wascalledKyuquot.Theybroughtoffanumberoffursfortrade,butinbarterwerequicktotakeoffence,andshowedbytheirmannerthattheywerenotatalloverawedbythewhitemen.

"Idon'tlikethelooksofthesefellows,"remarkedLawrence,whowasassistingintrading."Theyappeartobebothhaughtyandsurly,andInoticedthattheywerecountingourguns."

"Yes,Inoticedthat,too,"answeredthecaptain."Wewon'thaveanymoreofthemonboardto-day,Ifancy,andwewillsetagoodwatchto-night.To-morrowisSunday,andIpromisedthementhattheycouldgoashoreinthemorningtodotheirwashing;wewillhavetoseethattheyarewellarmed.Wewillheadouttoseato-morrownight,forIdon'tliketheideaofstayingwhereIcan'ttrustthenatives."

OnSundaymorningthecaptainspoketothecrew:"Men,Itoldyouthatyoucouldgoashoreinpartiesto-day,"hesaid,"andIwillkeepmywordtoyou,butIwanttowarnyouofthenatives.Idon'tliketheiractions.I'mgoingtosuggestthatinsteadofgoinginseparategroupsyouallgoatonetime;butsomemustremainontheship.Iwanttoknowifanyofyouwillvolunteerforthatduty."

"I'llstay,"saidLawrence."Ispentawholeyearonshoreandwon'tmissthechange."

"I'llstay,sir,ofcourse,"saidKenneth.

"Andme,"chimedinTinpots,andNicholastheblackcookalsoagreedto

remain.

"Thatwillbeenough,"saidthecaptain;andhepreparedtodisembarkwiththeothers.

WhentheyhadgoneLawrencecalledtoTinpotstobringfishing-lines;andtheyweresoonengagedinfishingfromthebowofthevessel.SeveralsmallcodhadbeenlandedwhenLawrence,whohadbeenwatchingtheshore-line,exclaimed:"That'sfunny!Lookatthosecanoesslippingroundthepoint.I'vecountedhalfadozenoftheminthelastfewminutes.Somethingmustbeinthewind.You'dbettercallKen,andtellhimtobringhistelescope."

"What'sthematter,Larry?"inquiredKenneth,whenhecameforwardinanswertothemessage.

"Idon'tknow;buttheIndiansareuptosomething.They'vebeendodgingroundthatpoint,andaregatheringthere;andI'llwarrantit'sfornogoodpurpose.Letmehaveyourglassforaminute.Yes,Ithoughtso;they'resneakingbackundercoveroftheoverhangingtrees.Look,youcanseehalfadozencanoesthere,andtherearenowomeninthem."



"You'reright,"exclaimedKenneth,lookinginturnatthedistantpoint."They'reeithergoingtoattackusortheshoreparty.Wehadbettergivethecaptainwarning.Tinpots,runuptheflaganddipittwice,"andasthesailordidsoKennethfiredhispistoltoattractattention.

Therewasanansweringshotfromtheshore,andinafewmomentstheycouldseethemenpilingintotheboatsandpushingoffforthebrig.

"Now,letusgettheseswivelsloaded,"suggestedLawrence,"andthemusketsandcutlassesready";andwithTinpots'assistanceheloadedthegunswhileNicholasandKennethdistributedthemuskets.

"Whatiswrong?"calledCaptainIngraham,asheclimbedaboard.

"IthinktheIndiansarepreparingtoattackus.Yes,see,they'recomingnow,"answeredKenneth,pointingtowherealonglineofcanoescouldbeseenemergingfromtheshadows."Larrynoticedthem,"headded,"andweloadedtheswivelsandstackedthemusketsandcutlassesreadyfortrouble."

"Excellent!Nowmen,toyourstations.Betterloadthefour-pounders,Mr.Cruft."

"Verygood.Guncrews,roundshotforthefour-pounders,grapefortheswivels."

Themenflewtoobeyorders.Theboatswerefirsthoistedupandtheboarding-netssetinplace.Cannonwererunback,charged,andrunoutagain.Powder,roundshot,andgrapewerepassedupfromthemagazine,andinaveryfewminutesthe_Hope_waspreparedforaction.

"Therearefifteencanoes,eachwithaboutadozenmen,"calledLawrence."Lookwhattheyaredoing."

TheIndianswereonlyafewhundredyardsaway.Theleadingcanoehadsloweddown,toallowthenextonetoapproachandlayitsprow

alongsidethesternofthefirst.Thethirdcanoedidlikewiseandsoonthefifteendugoutswerestretchedoutinanunbrokenline,andinthismannertheyslowlyapproachedtheship.

"Fireashotoverthem,"orderedthecaptain."Idon'twanttokillthemifIcanfrightenthemaway."

"Allright.Forestarboardswivel,fire."Andtheguncrashedoutitswarning,pepperingthewaterfarbeyondtheIndians.

Withwildcriesofderisionanddefiancethesavagesdashedforward,severalwarriorswavingspears,whileoneortwoessayedtoreachtheshipwiththeirarrows.ItwastheevidentintentionoftheIndiansto

encirclethe_Hope_andattackherfromallsidessimultaneously.

"Steadynow--takecarefulaim.Spraytheendsofthelinewithgrape,andbreakitinthecentrewithroundshot,"calledthefirstofficer."Areyouready?"

"Aye,aye,sir."

"Fire!"



Therewasatremendousroarasthegunsspurtedflameandspeweddeathamongthesmallcraft.Theshipshockwiththeshockofthebroadside,andasthesmokeclearedawayaterriblesightwasrevealedtothoseondeck.Splinteredandbrokencanoes,woundedanddyinganddeadIndianswereintermingledwithmenwhohadescapedunhurtwhentheircanoeswereshattered,whilesurvivingdugouts,inwildconfusion,wereturningandtwistingamidthewreckageasthefrenziedpaddlerssoughttoescapefromthetangle.

"Wehavegottoteachthesefellowsalesson,"declaredthecaptain."Outwiththelaunch,Mr.Cruft,andchasethem.Mr.Burbank,takethelongboatandpickupasmanyasyoucanofthewounded."

LawrenceaccompaniedMr.Cruftinthelaunch,whichmountedasmallbrassswivelonthebow."Don'tshootthem,butfrightenthem,"orderedthatofficer,asthesailorsgavechasetothecanoes.Therewasnochanceofovertakingthelightercraft,soafterpursuingthemforamileahaltwascalledandtheswivelwasfired,theshotchurningupthewaterbehindthehard-paddlingIndians.

InthemeantimeKennethhadpickedupsixwoundedmenandfourwhowereuninjured.Thesehehadconveyedtotheshipasherescuedthemfromthewater,andlaterremovedthewoundedandthentheotherstotheshore.

"That'sasadbusiness,"deploredCaptainIngraham,whentheboatshadreturned,"butwedidnotprovokeit.Wewillleavehereatonce."

Afterwaitingseveralhoursforawind,theboatswereputout,andthe _Hope_wastowedoutofthecoveintothebroaderexpanseoftheinlet,whereaslightbreezegavehermotion.Tothesurpriseofall,acanoe,carryingachiefandthreemen,camealongsidelaterintheday.Inresponsetoademandforanexplanationofthereasonfortheattack,thechiefindignantlydeniedthatithadbeenhistribethathadbeenresponsiblefortheoutrage.Hesaidhecamefromthesouth,and,indeed,wasatenmitywiththenativesofthelocality.Herequestedpermissiontosleeponboardthebrigantine,declaringhis

fearofattackifhespentthenightonshore.Beingconvincedthathespokethetruth,thecaptaingrantedhisrequest.HesaidhehadlatelycomefromNootkaandthattherewerefivevesselatthatplace,twoEnglish,twoSpanish,andoneAmerican.

Theboatswereagainorderedout,andcontinuedtowingtheshipuntilwellafterdarknesshaddescended,whenanchorwasdroppedbeforeavillage.

Astrongwatchwasmaintainedallnight,butdespitethevigilanceoftheguardthevisitingchiefandhisretainersmanagedtoslipaway,takinganumberofarticleswiththemasmementoesoftheirstay.

Atdaybreakthelaboriousworkoftowingtheshipwasrecommenced,andwascontinueduntilaslightwindcameupandcarriedheroutintotheopen.Now,however,thebreezedieddown,andthetideandlonggroundswellcarriedthebrigantinerapidlytowardstherocks.

Oncemorethesmallboatswerelowered,andtherefollowedalonganddesperatestruggle.Itwasallthatthemencoulddotoholdthevesselagainstthesetofthetide,andforthreehourstheydidbutlittlemorethankeepherfreefromthereef,overwhichthelongswellbrokeandsplashed.Atlast,whentheywerealmostexhausted,afine



breezesprangup.Thetiredmenwererelievedandthe_Hope_headedoffshore.

"Thatwasaclosecall,"remarkedMr.CrufttoLawrence."ItwasworsethanbeingattackedbyIndians,forweshouldhaveagoodchanceofbeatingoffthesavages,butifwehadtouchedthoserocksnothingcouldhavesavedus:thoselongrollerswouldhavepoundedustopieces.Waterisoneofthemostpowerfulagenciesknown,andagainsttheforceofuncontrolledwatermanisbutapunything."

"Wherearewegoingnow?"askedLawrence.

"ToNootka,togivethemenalittlerecreationandmakesomerepairs."

Allnightthebrigantinestoodoffshoreinmoderateweather,andnextdaymadeforNootkaSound,whichlateintheafternoonwasvisible.Itwastheintentionofthecaptaintoanchorinsomeconvenientcoveforthenightandenteronthefollowingmorning.Hardlyhadthevesseldroppedherkedge,however,thanasmallboatwasseenstandingoutfromtheport.

"It'sanavalboat,"commentedthefirstofficer,"seehownicelyitishandled."

"An'Hi'llwagerhitisaBritishboat,"volunteeredTinpots,whohadheardtheremark.

Theoldsailorwasnotdeceived,forthestrangerprovedtobethepinnacefromH.M.S._Dædalus_,astore-shipsentoutwithsuppliesforCaptainVancouver'scommand.Thelieutenantinchargecameout,heinformedCaptainIngraham,toofferhisservicesinpilotingthe_Hope_ toFriendlyCove.Accompanyingthelieutenantwasthesecondmateofthebrig_Columbia_,anoldshipmateofCaptainIngraham.

"Andsothe_Columbia_isatNootkaagain,"heexclaimeddelightedly."I'llbegladtoseeheragain,Smith."

"Yes,"repliedthe_Columbia's_officer,"andluckywearetobethere,too.Westruckarock,underfullsail,offWashingtonIslands,andwerebadlysprung.WejustmanagedtogetoffandmakeNootka.We'vebeenrepairingthedamageeversince.ItmighthavegonebadlywithusifwehadbeencastashoreamongtheIndians."

"Itcertainlywouldhave,"agreedCaptainIngraham,"althoughtwoofmyofficersandanoldsailorspentayearashore.Theyonlysavedthemselvesbypersuadingthesavagesthattheseamanwasagod."

"Theyweremorefortunatethanourfellows,"declaredthelieutenant."Welostourfirstlieutenant,ourastronomer,andaseamaninafoolhardyescapadeattheSandwichIslands.Themaster'smatewas

orderedtosuperintendthewateringoftheship,andheaskedforaprotectingpartywithaswiveltocoverhim.LieutenantHergestaskedhimwhy,andherepliedthathewouldnotriskhismenunnecessarily.Thisledtosomewords,andthelieutenantdeclaredhewouldtakethepartyashorehimself.Gooch,thescientist,volunteeredtoaccompanyhim.Theywentunarmed,andthenativesattackedthematonce.BothHergestandGoochwerekilled,aswellasoneoftheseamen.

"ForthelifeofmeIcan'tunderstandwhyHergestdidsuchathing.Heshouldhaveknownbetter,forhewaswithCaptainCookwhenhewas



killedatthesameislands.Asforme,I'mjustaswillingasthenextmantotakemychancesinafight,ashoreorafloat,butIdon'tbelieveingivinganysavageanadvantageoverme."

"Iagreewithyou,"declaredCaptainIngraham.

CHAPTERXIII

NOOTKA

AccompaniedbyapilotlaunchsentoutfromtheportbytheSpanishcommandant,the_Hope_nextmorningmovedupthesoundanddroppedanchoroppositethesettlement.AsshepassedHogIslandthecoloursofSpainweresalutedwithnineguns,thecourtesybeingreturnedbythebatterythatcrownedtherock.

InthecovewereridingtheEnglishstore-shipandaSpanishfrigate,whiletheBostonshipColumbiawasgravedonthebeachundergoingrepairs.

TheboyshadlookedforwardtoseeingNootka,which,eversincethe

publicationofthejournalsoftheill-fatedCaptainCook,hadbeenthespotontheWestCoastthathadappealedasnoothertothosewholovedadventure.ItwastoNootkathatdaringseamerchantshadcomeinsearchofthevelvetyfurofthesea-otter;itwasNootkathatlatterlyhadbecomeapawnofmightyplayuponthechessboardofinternationalpolitics.AndnowtheyweretoseeNootka--theNootkawhichCaptainIngrahamandMr.Crufthadsooftendescribedtothem,andfromwhichdescriptionstheyexpectedtoseeonlyanothersuchinletastheyhadalreadyvisiteduponthecoast,improvedwithoneortworudehutsofrough-hewncedar,butwithaldifferinginthatitwastheplacethathadbeensoglorifiedbytheromanceofthetimes.

[Illustration:THEBRIG"HOPE"INNOOTKASOUND]

Greatwastheastonishmentofthelads,therefore,whenthe_Hope_ roundedtheislandbatteryanddroppedanchor;norwastheirastonishmentatthefallacyoftheirfancygreaterthanthesurpriseoftheirsuperiorsatthechangethathadtakenplaceinthreeshortyears.WherethetumbledownhabitationofMeareshadbeentheonlyevidenceofEuropeanoccupation,nowstoodcommodiousdwellings,storehouses,bake-shops,farmbuildings,carpentershedsandahospital;anextensiveclearinghadbeeneffectedintheforest,andthetangleofunderbrushandwind-blowntreeshadgivenwaytofinegardensandfencedenclosuresforherdsofcattle,sheep,andswine.

CaptainIngrahamgazedinwondermentatthesceneforseveralminutes

withoutspeaking,andthenexclaimed:"Didyoueverseesuchachange?"

"Ineverdid,andwouldn'thavebelieveditpossibleifIhadbeentoldaboutit,"answeredhisfirstofficer."Buthere,ifI'mnotmistaken,isCaptainGray."

"Well,well,Ingraham,myhearty,it'sgoodtoseeyouatNootkaagain,"criedthemasterofthe_Columbia_,ashesprangaboard,tobewarmlygreetedbyhisoldmate."Andthereyouare,Cruft!Howareyouall?"



LawrenceregardedCaptainGraywithkeeninterest,forhehadoftenheardmembersofthecrewspeakofhimbyreasonofhisexploitsasatraderandhisskillasanavigator.Asquare-shoulderedmanofmediumheight,withapurposefuljawandstraight,thin-lippedmouth,hemighthavebeenconsideredhandsomehaditbeennotforadetractingmannerofsquinting.

HenoddedpleasantlytoKenneth."Ah,Imetyoulastyear,Ithink";andthen,spyingLawrence,"Andwhoisyourotheryounggentleman,Ingraham?"

And,asLawrencewaspresented,hecommented,"Youareyoung,areyounot,tobeoutinthispartoftheworld?ThoughIsupposenot:boyswillgotosea;andthere'sdangerwhereverthewaterisdeepandthewindblows."

"Yes,bothheandMr.Burbankareratheryouthful,"answeredCaptainIngraham;"butthey'renonetheworseforthat,andI'dratherhavethemthanmanyolderandmoreexperiencedmenI'vesailedwithinmytime."

ThecomplimentpaidtotheminthepresenceofsuchamanasCaptainGraydelightedthelads,andtheyweremorethanpleasedwhentheywere

invitedtojointheirseniorsinthecabin.

"WhathaveyoubeendoingsinceIsawyoulast?"inquiredCaptainIngraham,whentheywereseatedbeforeabottleofwine.

"Oh,Ihavehadexcitementenough,"wastheanswer."Wehadabrushortwowiththesavages,andnearlylostourselvesontheWashingtonIslands."

"Yes,Iheardofthat.Wereyoubadlydamaged?"

"Yes,anditwasonlybygoodluckthatwemanagedtoreachNootka.Thedonshavebeenveryobliging.ThismanQuadraisaregular

gentleman.Ihavebeenlivingonshoreeversinceweputinhere,andhehasloanedmesmithsandcarpenters,sothatI'mnearlyreadyforseaagain."

"Splendid!Ihesitatedtocomeinhere,notknowingwhattheattitudeoftheSpaniardsmightbetowardsus,forwhiletheUnitedStatesisatpeacewithSpain,sowasEnglandwhenouroldfriendMartinezseizedMeares'sships.It'stoobadwehavenoclaimtotheseterritories."

"Donotworry,"repliedCaptainGray."IhavediscoveredagreatrivertothesouthofCapeFlattery,andhaveclaimeditforthePresidentandCongress,andnameditafterthe_Columbia_."

"Excellent,"exclaimedhisfriend."Here,letusdrinkatoasttotheColumbiaRiver.Come,fillupyourglasses;now,here'stotheColumbiaRiverandtoitsDiscoverer."

"Botheryou,"laughedCaptainGray."Whydidyoucouplemewiththetoast,andpreventmydrinkingitwithyou?Butcome,I'llgiveyouanother--'MaythebanksoftheColumbiaRiversomedaybesettledwithcitizensoftheRepublic.'"

Furtherdiscussionofthediscoverywasterminatedbythearrivalofa



SpanishofficerbearingthecomplimentsofDonJuanFranciscodelaBodegayQuadra,thecommandantofthedepartmentofSanBlas,whichincludedNootka,andhisinvitationtodineonshore.

AsMr.Cruftwasengagedwitharrangementsfornecessaryrepairsandrefitting,andastheinvitationincludedalltheofficersofthe _Hope_,thetwoboysaccompaniedCaptainIngrahamandthemasterofthe _Columbia_ashore.TheywereimpressedbytheappearanceoftheSpanishsoldiery,whoevidencedasmartnessanddisciplinethatwasforeigntotheirpreconceivedideasofthesoldiersofSpain.

Kennethvoicedhissurprise,andCaptainGray,whooverheardhim,answered:"ThingshavealteredsinceQuadrawasgivenchargeatSanBlas.Beforethatthemenwereslovenlyandindifferent;butheisagoodsoldierandagentleman,andthemenofthegarrisonunderhimreflectthosequalities.

"Thesehousesandgardens,though,aremainlyasaresultoftheeffortsofCaptainPedroAlberni,whowasstationedhereuntilafewmonthsago.Hewasveryindustriousandaverycleverman.OnhisarrivalhefoundthatChiefMaquinna,whohatedMartinez,wouldhavenothingtodowiththeSpaniards.Albernisetabouttowinhisfriendship.HelearnedafewwordsoftheIndianlanguage,andcomposedasonginpraiseofthechief.Thishetaughttohiscompany,

andforhoursthesoldierswouldstandonparadeandsingtothetrees.Thiscontinuedfordays,andthenitstopped.

"Maquinna,likeallIndians,isavainfellow,andhecameoutoftheforest,wherehehadhiddeneachdaytohearhispraisessung,andrequestedthatthesongberepeated.ThatwaswhatAlbernihadbeenwaitingfor,andheimmediatelymadefriendswiththe_tyee_andloadedhimwithpresents,andasaresultMaquinnawilldoanythingfortheSpaniardsto-day.HespendsmuchofhistimewithQuadraandeatsathistable,andonoccasionhesharesQuadra'sroomwithhim."

Astheytalkedtheywerewalkingupthepathwayfromthewater'sedgetowardsthelargetwo-storyhousewhichtheSpanishcommanderoccupied.

Itwaslargerthantheyhadatfirstbelieved,andoncloserapproachitwasfoundthatthewhitewashedexteriorwasenlivenedbyaprofusionofgayflowersgrowinginwindowboxesandbesidethewalls.

Theywereusheredintothemainhall,whereSeñorQuadrahimselfcametogreetthem.Atall,spare,beardedman,withtheairofastudentratherthanthatofasoldier,hismannerwasatthesametimedignifiedandfriendly.HegreetedhisvisitorsinSpanish,whichwastranslatedbySeñorMozino,thebotanistoftheestablishment,whohadbeensentbyroyalcommandtostudyandreportuponthevegetationandgeologyofthecountry.

Afterthefirstgreetingshadbeenexchanged,CaptainIngrahamproduced

the_Hope's_papersforexamination,andwhenthisformalityhadbeendisposedofthepartywasshownaboutthesettlement,returninglaterfordinner.Thiswasservedinalargedining-hall,andtothesurpriseofthetriofromthe_Hope_,theservicewasofsolidsilver,whiletherichnessofthedraperiesandtheexcellenceoftheappointmentssuggestedthefurnishingsofagrandee'spalaceinoldSpainratherthanthoseofawoodenstructureinthemidstofawildernessinapracticallyunknownquarteroftheglobe.

Norwerethedishesoutofkeepingwiththemagnificenceoftheroom,



forascoursefollowedcourse,asfishandfowlandgame,garnishedwithfreshvegetablesandhighlyspiced,afterthemannerofSpanishcooking,appearedandgavewaytosweetsandfruitsandrarewinesfromfar-offOportoandMadeira,Lawrencecouldhardlybelievethatitwasnotalladream."Andtothink,"hewhisperedtoKenneth,"thatafewweeksagointhissamecountryweweregladtogetsmokedfish,andthoughtwewerewellshelteredinourhut."

InadditiontotheAmericanmastersandtheboys,SeñorQuadrahadashisguestsCaptainNewofthe_Dædalus_andhislieutenant,thegoldlaceanddarkblueoftheiruniforms,andthelighterblueandscarletandgoldoftheSpanishmilitaryandnavaldress,addingcolourtothegayscene.Ofallthelargecompany,however,thepersonwhomtheboysthoughttobethemostinterestingwastheNootkanchief,Maquinna.Thisnative,whowasattiredinEuropeanclothes,conductedhimselfatthetableasifhehadbeenaccustomedtotheuseofknifeandforkfrominfancy,andhebehavedinamannerthatwashighlycreditabletohisinstructorsinetiquette.

Thecommandantledtheconversation,chattingfirstwithoneandthenanotherofhisguests,hispleasantriesandobservationsbeinginterpretedbythescientist.

"AndisthisyourfirstvisittoNootka?"heaskedCaptainIngraham.

"No,señor,Iwashereasmateofthe_Columbia_withmyfriendCaptainGrayseveralyearsago."

"Ah,thenyouwerepresentwhentheunpleasantincidentoftheseizureoftheEnglishvesselstookplace;butthathasgivenusthepleasureofmeetingCaptainNewandhisofficers";andheliftedhisglasstotheEnglishmen.

"Yes,señor,Iwaspresent."

Nothingmorewassaidoftheincidentthen,butlater,aftertheyhadreturnedtothe_Hope_,amessengercamewithalettertoCaptain

Ingrahamfromthecommandant.ThiswastotheeffectthathewouldappreciateitifCaptainsIngrahamandGraywouldprepareajointstatementoftheexactcircumstancesofthedetentionoftheBritishshipsastheyknewthem.

ThisbothCaptainIngrahamandCaptainGrayreadilyconsentedtodo,andtheywereengagedforthewholeofthenextdayuponthepreparationofthedocument.TheydeniedsomeoftheassertionsmadebyMearesinhismemorialtotheBritishParliament,anddeclaredthattheyhadneverheardofhisallegedpurchaseoflandsaboutNootkafromMaquinna,whohadtoldthemthattheonlypersontowhomhehaddisposedofhislandswasCaptainJohnKendrick,ofBoston.

SeñorQuadracameinpersontoreceivethestatement,andwasreceivedonboardwithasaluteofguns.

"TheseSpaniardsmustuseupalotofpowderinansweringallthesalutesthatarefired,"laughedKenneth.

"Yes,andtherewillbemoreofit,too,whenCaptainVancouverarrives,fortherewillbesalutestothesovereignsofeachcountrywhentheyaretoasted,andsaluteswhenQuadraandVancouvervisitoneanotherandwhentheyleaveagain,"saidMr.Cruft.



The_Hope_remainedatNootkaforafortnight,duringwhichtimethe _Margaret_,ofBoston,commandedbyCaptainJamesMagee,partownerofthe_Hope_,the_Butterworth_,CaptainBrown,andthe_Jenny_,CaptainBaker,ofBristol,England,arrived.FriendlyCovepresentedaveryanimatedsceneassailorsfromthedifferentvesselsstrolledthroughthesettlementandpassedtoandfrobetweentheshipsandtheshoreinsmallboats.

Onleavingtheportthe_Hope_returnedtothenorthernislands,wheretradingwasengagedinforthenextmonthwithafairmeasureofsuccess.Havingsecuredacargo,CaptainIngrahamoncemoreturnedinthedirectionofNootka,wherehehadpromisedtomeetCaptainMageeandtakeonboardhisfursfortransporttoChina.ItwasnightwhenthebrigantinenearedNootka,andacannonwasdischargedtoinformtheSpaniardsoftheapproachofthevessel.BeaconfireswerelightedonthetopofHogIslandandthepointbeyondthevillage,andbytheaidthusaffordedCaptainIngrahamwasabletobringhisshipintotheharbour,whereanchorwasdropped.

AtdaylightKenneth,whowasonwatch,wassurprisedtoseeridingatanchorclosebytwoadditionalBritishshipsofwar.Theseprovedtobethe_Discovery_andthe_Chatham_,undercommandofCaptainVancouver,whosearrivalhadbeensoanxiouslyawaitedbySeñorQuadra.

Theboysdidnotgoashore,butthefirstofficeraccompaniedCaptainIngrahamtopayhisrespectstotheSpanishofficials,anduponhisreturnheexplainedwhathehadheard.

"ItappearsthatthereisadeadlockbetweenQuadraandVancouver,"hesaid."QuadrainterpretshisinstructionstomeanthatheistosurrenderonlythelanduponwhichMeareshadhishouseandbuiltthe _North-WestAmerica_.ThatwouldmeanthatSpainwouldgiveuponlyaboutoneacre.Vancouver,ontheotherhand,saysthathisordersaretotakeoverallthelandsclaimedbyMearesaboutNootkaandPortCox.Asneitheronewillchangehisviewpoint,theyhavedecidedtoreferthewholematterbacktotheirrespectivecourtsformoredefiniteinstructions.

"QuadraholdsaveryhighopinionofVancouver,andinspiteoftheirdifferencestheyarethebestoffriends."

TheboyssoonhadanopportunityofjudgingtheBritishcommanderforthemselves,forseveraldayslaterheinvitedalltheofficersofthe _Hope_todinewithhimonboardthe_Discovery_,andprovedhimselftobeanobligingandattentivehost.HetookpainstoexhibitthechartshehadmadeinthecourseofhisvoyageofexplorationafterenteringtheStraitsofJuandeFuca,andexplainedhowhehadcircumnavigatedagreatislandthathadhithertobeenregardedasapartofthemaincontinent.

"Andwhatnamehaveyougiventothisisland?"askedCaptainIngraham.

"IaskedSeñorQuadratonameit,"heanswered,"andheexpressedadesirethatourfriendshipshouldbemarkedinsomeway,sohenamedtheisland,'Vancouver'sandQuadra'sIsland.'"

InconversationMr.CrufthappenedtomentionthatoneofCaptainCook'screwwasonboardthe_Hope_,and,tothedelightofTinpots,thenextdayCaptainVancouverboardedthebrigantine,announcingthathehadcometoinspectthevessel,cravethehospitalityofthemaster,



andmeethisoldshipmateofthe_Resolution_.Forfullytwentyminuteshechattedwiththeoldsailor,recallingincidentsthathappenedwhentheywerebothservingundertheillustriousnavigator.

"Whatafineman,"exclaimedKennethinadmiration,asthe _Discovery's_boatdrewaway."Hecan'tbeforty,either."

"'Eain'tthatyet,"declaredTinpots."'Eain'tthirty-fiveyet."

Foranothermonththe_Hope_remainedaboutNootka,withoneortwoshortcruisesfromtheport,andthen,earlyinOctober,thecaptainorderedfullsuppliesofwoodandwatertobetakenonboard.

"Whereareweboundforthistime?"askedKenneth,towhomtheorderwasgiven.

"ToChina--andhome."

CHAPTERXIV

DRAKE,BURBANKANDDRAKE

"Well,lads,wewillbehometo-morrow,"joyouslyexclaimedCaptainIngrahamoneevening,eightmonthslater."Backtocivilisationoncemore--backhome;won'tthatbesplendid?"

"Itcertainlywill.Icanhardlywaituntilwe'reinNantasketRoads,"answeredKenneth."Theold_Hope_seemstobemakingslowertimethaneverbefore."

"Itwillbenice,"agreedLawrencemoresoberly.

"Why,what'sthematter,Drake,"inquiredthecaptain."AreyounotpleasedtobebackinBoston?"

"Idon'tknow,sir,"wastheslowanswer."Yousee,youallhaveyourhomesandyourfriends--butIhavenoone.OfcourseI'mpleasedthatweshallbeabletogoashorewithouthavingtocarryfire-arms,andI'mgladthatitmeanssomuchtoyou;butyouseethe_Hope_ismyhome,andyousaywearenotlikelytogooutagaintogether.ItmeansthatI'llhavetostartlookingforanothership,orforsomethingtodoonshore;andIdon'texpecttoreceivesuchkindtreatmentasI'vehadwithyou,sir."

"Butyouhaveanunclehere?"

"Yes;butIdon'tknowifhecaresparticularlytoseeme.Andnow

thatyou'vementionedit,captain,Iwouldliketoaskyousomething.Ireceivedaletterfrommyuncle,andhespokeofyourhavingwrittenhome,andofhisknowingIsailedonthe_Hope_.Doyouknowhowhelearnedofmybeingwithyou?"

"Yes,Iknow.ItwasthroughyourunclethatIsignedyouon.Youquarrelledwithhim,andassoonasyoulefthimhewassorry.Hehadyoufollowed,andyouwereseenspeakingtome,andhesentformeandpersuadedmetotakeyou.



"Andmorethanthat:hegavemeasumofmoneytobeusedforyouradvantageifnecessary.Ihavenottouchedit,andshallreturnittohim.Soyouseeyouhaveafriend--andyouhaveahometoo."

Lawrencewassilentforamoment,andthenheasked:"Andwasthatthereasonwhyyouweresokindtome?No,no,that'snotfair,sir,andIapologise."

"Noneedtoapologise,"wasthekindlyanswer."Icanunderstandhowyoufeelaboutit.I'lltellyouthetruth.AtfirstIwasverydoubtfulabouttakingaboywhohadquarrelledwithhisuncleontheirfirstmeeting,butheinducedmetodoso.MyfirstfavourableimpressionofyouwaswhenyourefusedtotakemoneyfrommetooutfityourselfwhenIagreedtotakeyou.Myunderstandingwithyourunclewastotreatyoufairly,butwithnospecialconsiderationthatyoudidnotdeserve.IampleasedtosaythatIsoonfoundthatyouwereworthyofmyconfidence.Nowletmegiveyouapieceofadvice.Itisthatyougotoseeyouruncle.Youdonothavetomentionthisconversationunlessyouwishto.Rememberthatheisanoldmanandhasledalonelylife;anddon'tstandtoomuchonyourdignity."

"Thankyou,sir.Iwilldoasyousay."

The_Hope_reachedNantasketRoadsearlythenextmorning,andlaterin

theday,ontheincomingtide,passedintotheharbourandanchored.Shewassoonsurroundedbysmallboatsbearingfriendsofthoseonboard,whohadcometogivethemwelcomehome.Itwasnearlyduskwhenthetwoboyslanded.Astheysteppedashoreanoldmanapproachedthem."BeoneofyouMr.Drake?"

"Yes,that'smyname,"answeredLawrence."WhatcanIdoforyou?"

"Ibethyuncle'sman,Hooker,sir,andhesentmetofetchyoutohim.Therebeacarriagenighhereawaitingforyou."

"Goon,Larry,"Kennethurged,asLawrencehesitated.

"Notunlessyoucometoo."

"ButwhyshouldI?No;yougoaheadandgetthemeetingover,andI'llgoalongtothe"BunchofGrapes"andorderamealthatyouwillblessmefor;anddon'tbelong,forI'mhungryforthatmealnow."

"Allright,IsupposeI'llhaveto";and,turningtotheoldservant,"Letuswalk,Idon'tcaretoride."

"What!walkandthemasterbesendingacarriageforyou.Itellyouhedon'tbehiringcarriageseveryday,youngsir."

"Verywell,"laughedLawrence."Ifthat'sthecaseyoushallride";

andhefollowedHookertotheconveyanceandinsistedthattheoldmanridebesidehim.

"Andhowismyuncle?"heasked,astheyrattledovertheunevenroads.

"Beena-poorly,sir,buthe'ssomebetter.Hebeallexcitedaboutyoua-comin'home,andsentmetolookforyou."

TobiasDrakewasindeedexcitedatthenews.ItwasbuttwoweeksbeforethathehadreceivedtheanswerLawrencehadwrittentohis



letter,andhadentrustedtotheofficerCaptainVancouverhadsenttoLondonwithdispatchesfromNootka,andthefrank,manlytoneoftheletterhadgiventheoldmangreatsatisfaction.AndnowthathisnephewwasreturningoldTobiaswasallofatremble.Hehaddressedhimselfinhisbest,andwithnervoushandskeptreadjustinghiswrinkledcravatandruffledshirt-front.

Doubtsassailedhim.Theboymightrefusetocome;butno,surelynot;andhepickeduptheletterwhichhehadreadsomanytimesinthepastfortnight,andsoughtassurancefromitspages.Andnowcamethesoundofcarriage-wheels--andpassedon,leavinghimdisappointedandthepreytoanxiety.Whatifsomethinghadhappenedtotheboysincehehadwrittenthemessagethathadmeantsomuch!Thethoughtalmostunnervedhim.Hedroppedtoachairandstaredwild-eyedabouttheroom,whichwasablazewiththelightofadozencandles.Whatwouldhedoif----Buthark!Againthesoundsofwheelsandhoofs--nearer--nearer,andlouderandlouder.Theywerepassing?Yes--no:theyhadstopped.

Nowtherewerefootsteps--thelatchwasbeinglifted.OldTobiasrose,thebloodcoursingthroughhisveins,andastrangesensationgrippingathisthroat.Thedooropenedwide,andabronzed,broad-shoulderedyoungmanenteredandstopped.Theylookedsearchinglyateachotherforafullminute.ThenitwasLawrencewhobrokethesilence.He

thrustouthishand--"Uncle!"

[Illustration:"UNCLE!"]

"Myboy,myboy!"andoldTobiasstaggeredforward,tobecaughtinatightembrace,whiletearsofjoyrandownhiswitheredcheeks."Myboy,myboy!"

Whenatlasthehadsomewhatrecoveredhiscomposure,heledhisnephewtoachair."Andnow,"hefaltered,"itisrightthatIshouldsaysomethingtotheeaboutourlastmeeting----"

"No,no,please";andLawrencehelduphishand."Ifyouwillagree,

sir,thatwillbeforgotten."

Tobiaslookeddullyathisnephew,andthenalookofjoylighteduphisface,andhereachedouthishandandtheyshook,sealingthebargaininsilence.

"Thouarthungry,"heexclaimedsuddenly,asifmakinganaccusation."Thouartstarving.Hooker,Hooker,whyhastthounotservedfood?"

"Ibeattendin'it,"grumbledtheservantfromanotherroom;"Ibeattendin'it."

"Ifyoudon'tmind,uncle,"venturedLawrence,"Iwouldlikeyouto

comeanddinewithmeatthe"BunchofGrapes"tavern.Ihaveaverygoodfriend--ashipmate--whoisawaitingmycomingthere.IpromisedtodinewithhimandIcannotbreakmyword."

"Breakthyword!Thoushaltnot.OfasuretyIwillgo.Hooker,whydidstthounotbringthisotheryounggentleman?Hooker,whereismycoat?"hecalled;andwhentheservanthadbroughtitandhelpedhimputiton,"Hooker,thouartagoodman."

"IknowIbe,"wastheunperturbedreply.



Lawrencehadorderedthecarriagetowaitforhim,andenteringittheyweresoonatthefamousoldhostelry.Theyenteredbywayofthetaproom,onlytofindthatsomematterofconcernhaddrawneveryonetotheendsettle,whereasmallcrowdhadcongregated,includingthebarman.Nordidtheirentranceexcitetheslightestnotice,foritwasevidentthatsomepersonwastellingastoryofcompellinginterest.Theydidnothavetowaitlongtodiscoverthecauseoftheexcitement.Ahigh-pitchedvoice,precededbyalongandsatisfyingsighthatbetokenedthatthenarratorhadwithdrawnhisfacefromapintpotofaleafteradeepdrink,tookupthethreadofastory:"An'Mr.Lawrence,'esays,'Tinpots,''esays,'you'retheonlyoneascansaveus,asyou'reagod'----"

"Comealong,uncle,"whisperedLawrence,andhepluckedTobiasbythesleeve,whilehepressedhishandoverhismouthtopreventhislaughterbeingheard.Heledhisunclethroughtotheparlour,whereKennethwaswaiting,andwhentheformalitiesofintroductionwereover,theoldmancouldrestrainhimselfnolonger."Whydidstthouleadmefromthetaproom?"heasked.

"Becausethatchapwhowastellingthestorywasoneofourmen,andIdidn'twanttoembarrasshim.ItwasTinpots,Ken,andhe'shavingagreattime."

"Hecertainlyis.Iwaslisteningtohimfrombehindthedoorforawhile."

Itwasahappylittlepartythatsatdowntosupperafewmomentslater;andwhenthemealwasoverTobiaslistenedwhiletheboysrelatedtheiradventures.ItwasapparentthattheoldmanhadtakenastronglikingforKenneth.Afteratimeheseemedtoloseinterestinthestoriesandtobeoccupiedwithhisownthoughts.

"Whatarethyplans?"heaskedsuddenly,addressingKenneth.

"Ihavenothingdefinite;butfirstIamgoingtoNewHampshireto

visitmypeople.Ileaveinthemorning."

"Andwhatplanshastthou,nephew?"

"I'mundecided.ImaygobacktoHalifax,ortoseaagain.IdidintendtogowithKennethforafewdaystovisithispeople,"Lawrenceansweredhesitatingly,notknowinghowhisunclewouldreceivethesuggestionofhisleavingsosoon.TohissurpriseTobiasexclaimed:"Yes,thoushouldstgo;ofasuretythoumustgo."

Accordinglyontheverynextdaythetwochumsengagedseatsinthestage-coachandwereontheirwaytoNewHampshire,whereawonderfulwelcomeawaitedthem.

Threeweekspassedquickly,andthenonedaycameacurtletterfromTobias,askingthattheycometoBostonwithoutdelay.

"Isupposewewillhavetogo,"advisedKenneth;andtwodayslatertheyleftthepleasantNewHampshirefarmtokeeptheirappointment.

"Now,"saidtheoldmerchant,whentheywaiteduponhim,"IwilladvisetheeofthearrangementsthatIhavemade.Lawrenceisafullpartnerinthisbusiness----"



"What?"

"Verily,thyfatherwasanequalshareholder.Thouhastinheritedhisinterest.Thereisnodisputeofthat,"hedeclared,inatonethatbrookednoargument."But,"hewenton,"Idoubtthatthouhastexperienceinlargerconcerns,sowethreehaveformedanewpartnershipinanewenterprise.Therewillbethreeequalshares."

ItwasnowKenneth'sturntoexpressastonishment,buthewasasquicklysilencedashadbeenLawrence.

"Waituntilthouhastlearnedthenatureoftheventure,"chidedtheoldman."IhavesecuredaschoonertoenterthetradebetweenthisplaceandHalifax.Iamnotacquaintedwiththesea,soIwillprovidethemeans;thouwiltbecaptain,andLawrencewilldothetrading."

Andsoitwasarranged;foroldTobiashadsethisheartupontheschemeandwouldnotbedenied.Beforelongtheyhadestablishedagoodtrade,andnoonewasmorepleasedattheirsuccessthanTinpots,whowasthefirstpersonengagedbyCaptainKennethBurbank,ashismate.

MadeatTheTemplePressLetchworthGreatBritain

[EndofPeltsandPowder,byB.A.McKelvie]

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